Barcodes are used by manufacturing and retail businesses to manage inventory and track production of products. Barcodes are used to print barcodes, inventory product, augment process control, and for POS checkout. Barcode software reads and prints barcodes and interfaces with other applications. This software helps insure compliance to industry standards, and helps improve business productivity.
Common features included in software for barcodes include:
- Barcode printing to any printer (not just barcode printers)
- Industry standards
- Interface to office software (database, documentation, etc.)
- Control over dimensions
- Ability to support editing of font, color, rotation, size, etc.
- Support of all major bar code symbologies (including 2-D)
- Support barcodes in graphic formats
It is important to be sure that the software you use to produce and manage barcodes is compatible with the required barcode readers and printers used by your business. It is also important to be sure that the software you purchase supports the type of code required by your industry.
Major providers of bar code software include:
- Hallogram
- Microsoft
- Label Vision
- Barcode power
- Azalea
Factors to consider in making choices about bar code equipment and software include:
- Ease of use and training
- Types of codes needed (Code 39, Code 128, UPC or others)
- Types of equipment – this requires code readers too
- Physical environment (steam or dust may require different printed codes
- System resources: Not usually an issue, but sometimes small business environments are on over-taxed hardware already.