How to Create a Small Business Barcode Inventory System?

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How to Create a Small Business Barcode Inventory
System?
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• Inventory management is important for many
  businesses, large and small.
• While it is possible to track inventory manually
  or with a spreadsheet, adopting a barcode
  inventory system is more efficient in the long
  run.
• With a barcode inventory system, you can control
  your inventory and save time, money and
  unnecessary work.

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What is a barcode?

• A barcode is an image containing numbers or text
  that represents data graphically.
• The image contains information, which can be
  quickly transferred to a computer through a
  scanner.
• 1D Barcodes 1D barcodes are made up of vertical
  black lines and the space between the lines
  allows the scanner to identify the product.
• 2D Barcodes 2D barcodes are usually square in
  shape and are made up of various dots and shapes
  that contain data. These barcodes can store more
  data than 1D barcodes. 2D barcodes can also hold
  website information, which you can access by
  scanning the barcode with your phone.

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Why Do We Need Barcodes?

• With more inventory to handle, the barcode
  inventory system becomes more important as the
  business grows.
• Implementing it will help you to prepare for the
  future and you will also get various benefits in
  the meantime!
• The barcode inventory system is more accurate
  than manually keeping inventory.
• With barcodes, human error can be greatly reduced
  and your inventory will contain more accurate
  data.
• In fact, studies have shown that for every 250
  keystrokes, a person makes at least one
  data-entry error.
• There is an error behind every 36 trillion
  characters scanned in a computer.

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• You can easily decide what you have in stock and
  what you don't by barcode.
• When a customer buys a product, you can scan the
  barcode and remove it immediately from your
  inventory record.
• You will always have up-to-date inventory data,
  which will enable you to make the right business
  decisions.
• All your products can be read instantly with the
  barcode on your inventory and the data can be
  easily uploaded to the computer.
• This will greatly speed up the customer checking
  process after the transaction.
• Instead enter each product and calculate the
  total price by hand.

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How to get started?

• Creating a barcode inventory system is less
  expensive than most people believe.
• You must first create a product code. Universal
  Product Code (UPC) or Stock Keeping Unit (SKU)
  can be used.
• UPC can be found on almost any product and is
  certified for commercial use.
• To get a UPC, you must first register on Global
  Standard 1 to receive a unique code for your
  business.
• This code is useful for identifying and tracking
  merchandise worldwide.

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• UPC can protect your company's brand from theft,
  allow you to sell on Amazon, give customers
  access to product details, and can be used in
  most inventory management systems.
• UPC is generally 12 digits and is used for
  external purposes.
• You can also use a unique SKU number for each of
  your products.
• SKU codes can be generated manually or
  automatically by inventory management software.
• SKU is unique and is generally eight digits.
• It is used for internal functions like stock
  tracking.

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• Then,
• For each product code, you must create a barcode.
  
• To make barcodes free, you can use online barcode
  generator or barcode software.
• The next step is to print your barcode.
• Along with label sheets, most traditional inkjet
  and laser printers can print barcodes.
• Thermal printers are ideal for creating barcode
  labels.
• Thermal printers cost much less than inkjet and
  laser printers.

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• Thermal printers are much easier to maintain,
  they last longer than traditional printers and
  are faster and quieter.
• Thermal labels are available in a variety of
  shapes and sizes.
• If you are new to thermal printers, you should
  read how to print barcodes and shipping labels.

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Choosing a Scanner

• If you do not have a scanner to read the
  information in the barcode, then having a barcode
  is useless.
• When it comes to buying a barcode scanner, you
  have some options.
• If you want mobility and flexibility you can get
  a wireless scanner.
• This scanner requires a battery and you should
  always have a backup battery in your hand.
• These scanners are ideal for real-time inventory
  management as they do not require a power cord.

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• With a wireless scanner, you can save data on a
  memory card and then insert it into a computer,
  connect to a computer via Bluetooth, or purchase
  a scanner that stores data on the device itself.
• There is also the option of a wired scanner.
• Wired scanners are generally less expensive than
  wireless scanners, however, they do not offer as
  much versatility.
• The scanner and the computer on which you are
  storing inventory information must be connected.
• Wired scanners are easy to use and ideal for
  checking customers.