Barcodes are an integral part of many products and industries, ranging from consumer goods to medical devices and surgical instruments. By easily correlating an item with its relevant information, such as name, price, or location, barcodes bring significant value to every industry in which they are used.
But where did these little black and white bits of information come from? How do they work? And how can you best utilize them for your delivery business?
The History of Barcodes
The history of the barcode dates back to 1949. The concept of encoding information into a compact area with black and white lines was inspired by Morse Code. Although a patent was granted in 1952, the idea was far ahead of the available technology at the time and wasn’t fully realized.
Years later, in 1974, the first items marked with a Universal Product Code (UPC) barcode were deployed and scanned in supermarkets. Now, you can hardly go a day without encountering a product stamped with those little black and white bars.
In shipping and transportation, the use of barcodes was first seen in freight railroads in the 1960s. The Association of American Railroads used colorful barcodes on the side of railcars to track their movement.
Now, barcodes can be seen on envelopes stamped by the USPS, printed on the back of books, and even etched into circuit boards.
How Barcodes Work
Barcodes are symbols that represent different numbers. The black lines that make up a barcode have various widths, which correspond to the numbers 0 or 1. The sequence they fall into represents another digit, 0 through 9. The unique combinations of bars and digits may then undergo specific mathematical operations to produce the number that corresponds to the final product in a database.
In this way, different types of barcodes can represent a vast range of individual products, allowing each one to be accurately sorted, identified, and tracked.
Types of Barcodes
No two barcodes are the same. In fact, there are more than 30 unique types of barcodes that are currently in use around the globe. Each type utilizes a distinct combination of black and white bars or matrices, often paired with letters, numbers, or symbols, to encode information.
There are two categories of barcodes: one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D).
One-dimensional barcodes include UPC and EAN codes. These rectangular patterns are commonly seen in every modern manufacturing sector. Standard UPC and EAN barcodes can contain seven to thirteen digits.
Meanwhile, two-dimensional barcodes are often square and incorporate dots and patterns. One example is a QR code, which is used widely by consumers as well as industries, as they can contain thousands of letters and numbers, and allow for advanced capabilities such as website redirects.
Barcodes in the Logistics and Delivery Industries
In the logistics and delivery industries, barcodes are extremely helpful for tracking packages. When each package passing through a system is assigned a unique barcode, it can quickly be scanned at various points of its journey, creating an overall image of where the package is and what has happened to it. This includes when it’s delivered to its final destination as proof of delivery (POD), as barcodes are often scanned upon delivery.
Components of Barcode Scanning Systems
Barcodes used in shipping, logistics, warehousing, and B2B purchasing are most often one-dimensional barcodes. A wide variety of specialized scanners can read them. They must be linked to a database that has all the necessary product information.
Several pieces of hardware and software are required to utilize barcodes properly.
- Label Printer
- Barcode Scanner
- Database
Let’s dive into each one.
Label Printer
A label printer is essential for printing and labeling packages with barcodes. While any regular printer can produce a sharp image and will result in a readable barcode, you will then face the problem of the application.
A specifically designed label printer, able to print barcodes on sticky-backed labels of designated sizes, increases efficiency and accuracy when applying labels to packages in bulk.
Barcode Scanner
Barcode scanners can be either mounted or handheld devices, and are specially designed to read barcodes accurately. Barcode scanners emit a beam of light, usually a laser diode or LED, which illuminates the black and white part of the barcode design. A light sensor then picks up the reflected light, converts it into electrical signals, and finally decodes them in the barcode scanning software.
Database
By itself, the information in a barcode means nothing if it cannot be linked to its corresponding product. A database enables you to correlate barcodes with products and track your inventory.
Depending on the sector and purpose of the barcode, the database in question may be anything from a point of sale (POS) system, warehouse management program, or courier software.
Barcode Scanning with OnTime 360
OnTime 360 offers multiple methods for interfacing with barcodes.
One way is with mobile barcode scanning. This feature is available directly in the OnTime 360 mobile app for iOS and Android. No setup or extra hardware is required; simply use the camera on your device to quickly read a barcode from any label. The app will locate the corresponding order on your list and offer appropriate actions.
OnTime 360 supports flexible and custom scanning solutions with the OnTime Extension SDK or OnTime API. Hardware can be configured to perform certain actions at certain button presses, giving you total control.
Finally, you can use the free Scan Barcode To Update Status Extension. This extension provides an interface for using 1D laser barcode scanning devices within OnTime Management Suite or OnTime Dispatch, making the process easier to navigate. It also supports a wide variety of hardware, including both wired and wireless options.
With OnTime 360, you can access a powerful suite of tools designed to streamline operations, enhance customer experience, and support business growth. These tools allow you to utilize a sophisticated barcode system with ease.
Experience the benefits of OnTime 360 by purchasing, booking a demo, or starting a free trial today.