Barcodes simplify the flow of goods and information from manufacturer to carrier, in the warehouse, in the hospital and in the store. Things can be done faster and the chance of a number being wrong is reduced when it is read with a scanner rather than being input manually. That the barcode is readable is a prerequisite for these flows to work.
Check the bar code with Validoo BarcodeCheck
If you would like help checking that your barcode is of sufficiently high quality, you can use our service Validoo BarcodeCheck. We check the barcode against GS1 standards so that you can be sure that it will work when it is used.
» Read more about Validoo BarcodeCheck
Tips for good readability and reliable scanning
- Clean the printer heads thoroughly at regular intervals. If the printer is used intensively for labels, daily cleaning of the heads can be required. Check with your label printer supplier for maintenance advice.
- Check-scan the barcodes continuously or selectively to ensure quality is maintained.
- Choose a label material of high-quality since this often pays off.
- Choose a label material which can tolerate wear and tear during handling, for example by rubbing, exposure to sunlight and wet without losing its readability.
- Adjust the barcode module width to the symbology, application and size of the item. Remember that greater module width gives better readability. For example, a pallet label is often scanned from a distance by a scanner fixed to a moving truck. A large module width will be required to ensure that the barcode can be scanned reliably.
- Adjust the barcode height to the symbology, application and size of the item. Remember that a small barcode height reduces readability.
- Put the label on squarely since it is often read by a fixed scanner which only emits a horizontal beam.
- Take care to apply the label so that there are no folds. A fold in the label can make it impossible to read.
- In order for the barcode to be readable there must always be a light margin to the left and right of the barcode’s start and stop symbols. The light margin is an empty space which is needed so that adjacent information such as the package artwork will not interfere with reading.
» Read more about symbologies, module width, dimensions, etc.