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Product barcodes are read by barcode scanners in more everyday situations than most of us realize. One of the most familiar uses of this technology is with barcodes on product packages at grocery stores. When we buy something a bar code scanner scans and reads the barcodes on each package. Product information such as product name and unit cost is automatically read and processed by the stock control system. A short description and the amount of each item is automatically added to your bill as each new item is scanned.

At the same time the stock control system records the fact that you have purchased a can of soup or box of cereal, and the inventory tally maintained in the central database is reduced to reflect the fact that someone has purchased one of these items. Inventory control is more or less automatic, assuming that all the data was input correctly in the first place.

In a small business setting implementing such a system starts with stock control software where information about inventory items is stored. Bar code scanners are used to input data into the stock control system. Each time an item passes in or out of inventory it is scanned and the appropriate change of status is recorded in the inventory database.

It is important that each item has its own unique bar code. Items that don't already have a bar code can have a unique one generated for them by the stock control software. You then use a bar code printer to print out the code which can then be attached to the item.

Here are the three most popular types of bar code scanners currently in use:

1. The Wand Scanner - This is the simplest type of bar code scanner. A wand scanner is shaped like a pen and has to be touching the bar code to scan it. The light from the wand scanner is reflected off the bar code and then the system decodes this signal to recognize the product.

The wand system works very well most of the time, and is is the cheapest kind of bar code scanner. As far as cost is concerned, one of these wands will cost 1/10th as much as a laser gun, and about 1/5th as much as a CCD scanner.

There are limitations to wand scanners, however. The wand needs to be held at a fairly specific angle when pointed at the barcode in order for it to scan properly. Also, the speed with which it is moved across the barcode can't be too fast or too slow. Additionally, there is a limit to the resolution of every barcode wand scanner. The scanner will not be able to read properly any barcode that has a resolution that is significantly smaller than the scanner itself. For example, a 5 mil barcode cannot be read using a 10 mil wand. When in the market for a wand scanner, it is important that this isn't forgotten.

2. The CCD Scanner - The charged coupled device or CCD scanner is a significant step up from the wand scanner. Similar to the wand scanning device, a CCD reader needs to directly touch the barcode label for it to be able to register the information. Unlike the wand scanner, however, the user does not have to move the scanner across the label. The user merely puts the scanner next to the reader and engages it. The CCD scanner then takes a picture of the barcode, digitizes it, and decodes it.

Of all the different types of bar code scanners, CCD readers are considered the most straight-forward to use. They are manufactured in widths that start at about 2 and go up to 4 inches. A CCD reader is expensive compared to a wand (about four times the cost), but is a bargain compared to the laser scanner (about one third the cost).

A promising new technology similar to CCD is called FFO (Fixed Focus Optics). These scanners are non-contact readers, which means they can read bar codes from as much as 20" away. They will also be able to read two-dimensional bar codes as they become more popular.

3. The Laser Scanner - More sophisticated high volume applications use laser scanners to read and record bar codes. The bar code label is scanned quickly by a laser scanner using a beam of light. This means that there is no need for the bar code label to touch the scanner, and the scanner isn't portable. Since scanning occurs when the object is simply held in front of the scanner, item scanning is essentially automatic.

This system is widely used in many different types of installations. Scanning is such a quick process that it ss even possible to insert laser scanners directly into conveyor systems. As objects move along the conveyor, they are automatically scanned and recorded. You see this in grocery stores, where the cashier simply moves the items over the scanner to scan them. This type of system is quick enough to keep up with even the fastest motion of a cashier, and it is quicker and far more accurate than any other alternative system that could be used.

Regardless of which scanning system is best for your business right now, be sure to purchase stock control software that lets you implement other scanning technologies as the need arises.

Discover how bar code scanners can benefit your business. Take charge of business assets with the most effective stock control software and asset tracking systems - Article marketing systems.