Barcodes

The barcode system allows you to associate unique identifiers with materials, locations, and inventory items in your system. These barcodes can be scanned to quickly identify and track items, improving efficiency and accuracy in your operations.

The system supports a wide variety of barcode formats, broadly categorized into:

• QR Code: Commonly used for scanning with smartphones, can store more information than 1D barcodes
• PDF417: High-density 2D barcode used in ID cards and shipping labels
• Data Matrix: Compact 2D code used for marking small items

• Code 39: Widely used in non-retail environments
• Code 93: More compact version of Code 39
• Code 128: High-density barcode used for logistics and shipping
• EAN/UPC Codes: Standard retail barcodes (EAN-8, EAN-13, UPC-A, UPC-E)
• Interleaved 2 of 5: Used in warehouse and industrial environments
• And many more specialized formats

You can associate multiple barcodes with a single item. For example, a material might have:

• A QR code for smartphone scanning
• An EAN-13 code for retail scanning
• A Code 128 barcode for internal tracking

This flexibility allows you to accommodate different scanning devices and workflows within your organization.

Barcodes can be displayed in SVG format, making them:

• Easily printable at any size without loss of quality
• Viewable on-screen for reference
• Scannable directly from digital displays when needed

The system includes a lookup feature that allows you to find any item by scanning its barcode, regardless of whether it's a material, location, or inventory item.

Materials (products, parts, or any physical items in your catalog) can have barcodes associated with them. These barcodes typically represent:

• Product codes
• SKU numbers
• Universal product codes

Use cases:

• Quickly look up material details
• Add materials to orders by scanning
• Verify correct materials during operations

Physical locations such as warehouses, shelves, bins, or production areas can have barcodes. These help with:

• Identifying storage locations during receiving or picking
• Recording movement of items between locations
• Taking inventory of specific locations

Individual inventory items (specific instances of materials at locations) can have unique barcodes. These are useful for:

• Tracking serialized inventory
• Managing batches of materials
• Recording usage or movement of specific inventory items

The system also supports vendor-specific material barcodes, allowing you to track items using supplier-provided codes alongside your internal barcodes.

When creating or updating materials, locations, or inventory items, you can add barcodes by providing:

1. The barcode type (from the supported formats list)
2. The barcode value (the actual code to be encoded)

The system automatically generates the visual representation of the barcode, which can be accessed as an SVG image through the API.

1. Use Appropriate Barcode Types: Choose QR codes for smartphone scanning and information-dense applications, and 1D barcodes for standard scanning equipment.

2. Consistent Naming: Establish a consistent pattern for barcode values to make them easily recognizable.

3. Multiple Barcodes: Take advantage of the ability to add multiple barcodes when items need to be identified across different systems.

4. Print Quality: When printing barcodes, ensure adequate resolution and contrast for reliable scanning.

5. Scanning Equipment Compatibility: Consider the scanning equipment your team will use and select barcode types that are compatible with that equipment.

6. Barcode Placement: When physically placing barcodes on items or locations, ensure they are in easily accessible positions that facilitate efficient scanning.

The barcode system offers a flexible and powerful way to improve tracking, identification, and inventory management throughout your operations.