The use of QR codes in the retail industry is expected to increase in the coming years. According to Juniper Research, QR coupons redeemed via a mobile device is expected to reach 5.3 billion by the year 2022. In comparison QR coupons used in 2017 reached about 1.3 billion. That’s an expected 81 percent increase in about 5 years. Target is already on board with QR codes recently announcing a QR code-based payment system that will allow consumers to scan offers directly to their device.

The retail industry stands to gain from the usage of QR codes and there are many ways to incorporate them in the shopping experience.

1. QR Coupons

As discussed above QR Coupons are just the start but are still an integral part in incorporating QR codes. Consumers, as one myself, are just trying to find a deal that’ll be easy on the wallet. QR coupons are a great way for consumers to get a deal and an easy way to start for any retail business. There are many ways a business can get started with QR coupons; printing physical QR coupons is one possibility. To do so a barcode printer and barcode software would be needed in order to create and print coupons to hand out to the consumers. Another would be to create QR codes for mobile devices via an email promotion. One thing is certain, a barcode scanner capable of scanning QR codes will be needed to scan any coupons consumers bring in.

2. Window Shopping

Using QR codes for window shopping should be taken both literally and figuratively. What I mean by that is, literally putting QR codes on window display products. This would benefit retail stores located in malls as consumers walk by they can scan a QR code associated with a product. Figuratively consumers tend to do a lot of “window shopping” in stores by just looking around. Consumers want as much information as possible about a product before purchasing. Using QR codes in the window shopping fashion could give consumers access to product information with videos and reviews.

3. The Shopping Experience

To piggy back off the figurative “window shopping”, QR codes could revolutionize the in-store experience for the consumer. Placing QR codes on the product packaging will allow consumers to learn valuable information about the product. QR codes could contain videos explaining the product to the consumer or it could contain a link leading the consumer to customer reviews. Another possibility would be sampling certain products like music, a consumer could scan the QR code of a CD and listen to track samples. Lastly, consumers could be given the ability to purchase the product directly from the QR code and have the product shipped anywhere.

4. Upcoming Sales and New Products

QR codes could help inform consumers of upcoming sales, promotions, or an interactive view of new products arriving to the store in the near future.

5. Customer Information

The retail industry can use QR codes to encourage consumers to sign up for their newsletter. Perhaps a sign up feature could be included in the QR code encouraging consumers to sign up with their email address and receive special deals in the future.

Most Consumers now a days have a mobile device on their person. Retailers can use that fact to help improve the consumer experience while at the same time change the retail landscape.

For any questions or a quote on any of your QR code needs contact us at Barcodes, Inc.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) are helping retail stores across the country improving customer experience, inventory accuracy, and a way to present wider sets of products to customers who are a little more selective.

RFID Tags have the ability to hold information that identifies the products, its country of origin, materials used, production date, the handling process, and any other important information that took place in the supply chain. Some retailers are using RFID tagging to track products at all of their locations. According to a research study from the RFID Lab at Auburn University, RFID tagging can increase inventory accuracy from an average of 63 percent to greater than 95 percent. This helps enable speed and accuracy for consumers concerning fulfillment for two-day, one-day, or same day delivery. According to Kurt Salmon and the Platt Retail Institute, with RFID tagging, out of stocks can be reduced by up to 40 percent and increase profit margins by 60 percent.

According to the RFID Lab, manufacturers using RFID tagging will see an 80 percent improvement in shipping and picking accuracy, at the same time being able to increase the receiving time by 90 percent. This will allow retailers to communicate more efficiently with their manufacturers for expedited reorders, improved planning, and forecasting of products.

To read more about how RFIDs can help retail stores click here.

For any questions or a quote on any of your RFID needs contact us at Barcodes, Inc.

Why is Barcodes, Inc. raising supplies prices?

After 6 years of stable label pricing, Barcodes has received notification from all our suppliers regarding industry-wide price increases on labels. These increases are being announced to the market as high as 9%.

What are some of the raw material drivers causing these price increase?

• Freight increases – Caused by a strong US economy, rebuilding after deadly hurricane season causing high demand for an already strained trucking industry
• Hourly wage increases – Up 12% since 2011, due to historically low unemployment and strong US economy
• Pulp paper increases – Up over 20% in the last 18 months
• Paper Liner increases – Caused by mill closures and strong US economy
• Leuco dye shortages – Caused by the closure of a major Chinese supplier, creating shortages and price increases of 9% on POS receipt grades
• Devaluation of US dollar – Down 12% in 2017, which is causing higher import costs for imported raw materials
• Adhesive increases – as high as 40% over the last 18 months, caused by higher crude prices and Hurricane Harvey
• Polyester and Polypropylene film increases – Up 10% caused by higher crude prices

How will this affect my current quotes?

Barcodes will honor any pricing indicated on any current quote for 30 days from when the quote was sent. Effective February 1, 2018, all price increases will take into effect.

What price increase should I expect on ZipShip products?

Most stock paper and synthetic items – 4%

Please contact our dedicated account managers if you have any further questions, Thanks!

When it comes to consumables there are no shortage of options; each and everyone has their benefits when it comes to maintaining your printer. Printing supplies can impact everything from the printhead’s lifespan to the printer’s operational efficiency. So when it comes to selecting labels, tags, or wristbands it’s an important decision.

As a leading manufacturer of label printers and media, Honeywell provides a wide range of label materials to meet any need. When it comes to direct thermal printing the Duratherm series provides cost-effective printing with various levels of durability, from uncoated paper to top-coated synthetic labels.

Duratherm products are easy to use and demand less operator intervention, all without the need for ribbon changeover. Duratherm labels have been designed for use with both visible and infrared scanners in indoor applications with high humidity, high surface abrasion, at demanding fast print speeds.

• Duratherm Receipt – A direct thermal paper that provides excellent print quality. Well-suited for most general receipt applications, most notably for use in portable thermal printers.
• Duratherm Wristband -  The Duratherm wristbands are recommended for healthcare and provide the positive identification hospitals need for maximum patient safety. The full-coverage thermal print coating enables high quality printing on the entire length of the band, thus eliminating the need to reposition a sleeping patient just to scan their band.
• Duratherm II Label – A general purpose direct thermal paper label that delivers high-quality, cost-effective printing. Duratherm II is recommended for most general use applications where exposure to chemicals and moisture is not anticipated.
• Duratherm III Label – A top-coated direct thermal paper label that delivers high-quality printing and enhanced durability.Duratherm III is recommended for applications where high humidity, moisture contact and surface abrasion are concerns.
• Duratherm Linerless Label – The Linerless labels are a self wound adhesive label that provides excellent print quality and durability without the need for a liner. Without the liner, there’s no need to go through the trouble of disposing the liner and more importantly the roll capacity increases. Are available with both permanent or removable adhesive.
• Duratherm NIR – A premium direct thermal paper label engineered to deliver high-contrast images and enhanced durability. Duratherm III NIR is targeted for use in applications with challenging barcode scanning requirements and is well-suited for high-speed sortation applications.
• Duratherm II Tag – A general purpose paper tag providing high-quality, cost-effective printing.Duratherm II Tag is recommended for applications where labeling is not suitable. This product resists curling, even in high humidity environments.

For any questions or a quote on any printer consumables please contact us at Barcodes, Inc.

Delivering you the product is just a start. From staging to implementation along with support, click the video below and see how Barcodes Inc can help you with a whole solution.

For any questions or a quote, contact Barcodes Inc for a dedicated solution provider.

Windows CE and Embedded Handheld End of Life Cycle

With its solid construction, the CL4NX industrial printer makes label printing easy in the most demanding printing applications. Printer setups, operation and maintenance are supremely easy and intuitive. All models features a large 3.5” full color LCD, LED indicator, and universal icons making it clear to any operator the printer’s status and when attention is needed.

Its durable design makes it suited for applications used in compliance labeling, shipping/ receiving, asset management, WMS, logistic tracking, and retail labeling and tracking. It has print solution ranging from 203, 305, or 609 dpi and print speed up to 10 ips (inches per seconds).

Sato also provides training videos to show you how to reload media, replace the thermal ribbon or do basic maintenance tasks on your CLNX Series thermal printer.

For any questions or a quote on any of your printing needs contact us at Barcodes, Inc.

What you need to know?

On November 27, 2013, Congress enacted the Drug Quality and Security Act (DQSA), which includes the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). The DSCSA outlines steps to build an electronic system to identify, track and trace certain prescription drugs as they are distributed in the United States. This legislation was enacted in order to transform the pharmaceutical supply chain through serialization and improve patient safety.

Manufacturers, wholesalers, re-packagers and pharmacies have been required to implement lot-level management since 2015. Starting in November 2017, phase II of the DSCSA implementation requires manufacturers and re-packagers to serialize packages of drug products using a GS1 product identifier (either GTIN or NDC), serial number, lot number and expiration date, and embed this information into a 2D Datamatrix barcode. In November 2019, wholesalers must accept only serialized products and must verify unique product identifiers. By November 2020, pharmacists must meet the same requirements. Lastly, by November 2023, all information will be required to be made available that would allow supply chain partners to trace the ownership back to the initial manufacturer or re-packager.

What does a DSCSA solution do?

Our DSCSA hardware and software solution is focused on developing a traceability solution that incorporates transaction management, repository of historical snapshots of data for retrieval, and detects exceptions and provides easy to use visibility to traceability data in a matter of seconds.

What are the benefits of DSCSA?

Besides being in compliance, patients and supply chain companies are able to take advantage of the benefits of DSCSA, such as:

• Improved patient safety and care
• Compliance with serialization requirements helps move the industry ahead with better traceability and accountability for the origin, chain of custody, delivery, and availability of authentic, original prescription drugs
• Improved accessibility to patients for the drugs they need and assurance that they are exactly the drugs prescribed by their physicians
• Reduction of counterfeit drugs by having serialized identifiers
• Maintaining profits for the industry providers against counterfeit products
• Enables quick and accurate recalls of drugs, if needed
• Increased efficiency throughout the supply chain by optimizing inventory tracking through serialization

What do I need to be in compliance?

Converting manufacturing lines from lot-based to unit-based serialization represents an investment in software and hardware. Barcode scanners and barcode label printers are a necessity to print and scan a GS1 2D Datamatrix barcode label. Wireless networking is an option for manufacturers looking to future-proof their operations. While all facilities present different challenges, service providers like Barcodes, Inc. can provide a consultation to ensure all the technology is identified and implemented in accordance to compliance regulations.

While the deadline remains the same, the FDA has issued a one year reprieve, meaning that the agency will not take action against manufacturers who do not affix or imprint the product identifier to their packages until after November 26, 2018.

To learn more about the DSCSA drug tracing mandate or to get a free consultation on a drug tracing hardware and software solution, reach out to one of our Barcodes, Inc. representatives.

What you need to know?

In 2012, the United States Congress enacted the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century” bill, which included a provision requiring the FMCSA to develop a rule mandating the use of Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs). The purpose of the ELD was to electronically record a driver’s Record of Duty Status (RODS), which replaces the paper log book that drivers use to record their compliance with Hours of Service (HOS) requirements. In December 2015, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published the final electronic logging device rule, or ELD Mandate. In accordance with the mandate, fleets have until December 2017 to implement certified ELDs to record HOS. Additionally, fleets that are already equipped with ELD technology will have until December 2019 to ensure compliance with the published specifications.

What does an ELD do?

ELDs installed in motor vehicles can monitor and record a whole host of data about the vehicle and its driver that go beyond RODS – from Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIR) to driver behavior reporting on speeding, idling, and hard braking. Many systems are capable of integrating map and route optimization solutions as well, which can help drivers navigate through the best routes on any given day.

What are the benefits of ELD?

Besides being in compliance and avoiding heavy fees, many fleets are already seeing the benefits of ELDs, such as:

• Saves the drive time by reducing paperwork
• Keeps a dispatcher updated on a driver’s status, while letting them plan for loads better in light of HOS compliance needs
• Reduces the hassle of keeping a paper
• Tracks a driver’s HOS electronically
• Ensures drive segments are capture through being “integrally synchronized” with a truck’s engine
• Synchronizes driver with fleet manager by passing data to a system where one can see e-logs in a near real-time basis
• Save money by reducing fuel costs

Can I use rugged smartphones and tablets instead?

Knowing that there is a cost burden associated with adopting new technology, the FMCSA has authorized the use of rugged handhelds, smartphones, and tablets as the system as a whole meets ELD requirements, including a hardwired connection to the truck’s engine. This helps address the start-up costs associated with some of the HOS compliance systems. Furthermore, most truck drivers are already using rugged devices as part of their other operations, such as direct store delivery, signature capture, route optimization, and inventory management. They also allow the drivers the flexibility to choose from a wide range of mobile devices that they are comfortable using.

What are some mobile device options?

While there are hundreds of devices to choose from, here are some of the newest technologies that are ideal for the on-the-go driver:

• Zebra TC56 rugged smartphone
• Honeywell CT50 rugged smartphone
• Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1 rugged tablet
• Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet

To learn more about the ELD Mandate or to get a free consultation on an ELD hardware and software solution, reach out to one of our Barcodes, Inc. representatives.

Make professional label printing easy and flexible with the BarTender Print Portal App. With the powerful and secure Bartender by Seagull Scientific you’ll be able to create and automate labels, barcodes, RFID labels, plastic cards, and more.

Designed for use on either an iOS or Android device; the BarTender Print Portal App works with the BarTender Enterprise Automation Edition to let you easily choose label design, complete print-time data forms, and launch print jobs to any printer on the internet, all with strong and reliable security. Just download the app to either your smartphone or tablet and start printing.

Enterprise Automation Edition users can easily print directly from the Print Portal App to any connected printer:

• Print to Bluetooth or IP printers directly from your Android device
• Print to IP printers directly from your iOS device
• Add/manipulate data in real time through in-app BarTender data entry forms
• Automatically authenticate with a Print Portal site and browse to a specific root folder
• BarTender security controls monitor access and permissions to labels and documents

Download the free App below. (Requires Enterprise Automation Edition, Contact us at Barcodes, Inc. to purchase.)