Standing at a grocery counter, all your groceries must definitely
have gone through a barcode scanner. The counter person reads the
barcode on each product with a barcode scanner after which the resulting
data is sent to the computer. The computer, in turn, refers to the
database for the price and description of each product.
The
principle at work in barcode technology is called Symbology. It encodes
alphanumeric characters and symbols, presented in black and white
stripes or bars. This technology is one among the AIDC (Automatic
Identification and Data Collection) technologies that work to minimize
human involvement in areas such as data entry and collection, and
thereby also minimize chances of errors and use of time.
The
encoding aspect of this technology determines Symbology at its most
basic level. It allows the scanner to know when a character starts and
ends.
Structure of Barcode: Typically, a barcode comprises:
•
Quiet Zone: Also known as the Clear Area, this zone comes before the
Start Character of a barcode symbol. It is the least space needed for
barcode scanning. It should be free of all printing and have the same
color and reflect the same colors as the background of the barcode
symbol. It should also be 10 times in width of the narrowest element in
the specific barcode, amounting to 0.25 inch.
• Start Code: This indicates the beginning of the barcode to the
scanner. It comprises special barcode characters. These characters are
stripped-off and not sent to the host.
• Data: This refers to the actual data stored by the barcode.
• Check Digit: This is a mathematical sum that verifies the accuracy
of all other elements of the barcode. It is identified as the extra
digit at the end of the barcode which confirms that the scanner read the
barcode accurately. It is stripped off from the data and not sent to
the host.
• Stop Code: This indicates to the scanner where the barcode ends. They are not sent to the host but are stripped off.
• Trailing Quiet Zone: After the Stop Character, this is another clear space without any printing.
How
it works: The scanning head emits LED light onto the barcode. Light is
then reflected back away from the barcode into a photoelectric cell or a
light-detecting electronic component. White parts of the barcode
reflect the maximum light whereas black areas reflect the least.
As
the scanner moves over the barcode, the photoelectric cell emits a
pattern of on-off pulses corresponding to the code's black and white
stripes. The electronic circuit that forms part of the scanner converts
these pulses into zeros and ones. These digits are then sent to the
computer attached to the scanner which detects the code.
Applications of barcode technology: At stores, barcode technology can provide a variety of benefits, such as:
• Items that fly off the shelves are quickly identified and reordered.
• Items that are slow to sell can be identified so that they are not reordered.
• Fast-moving items can be given more space on the shelves, depending on their performance.
• Seasonal fluctuations can be predicted using historical data.
• Items can be repriced to show the earlier and new prices.
• Profiling of individual shoppers is also possible through discount cards registration.
• Barcodes are also useful in logistics and supply chain management.
When a parcel is to be shipped, it is given a Unique Identifying Number
(UID). The database links the UID to specific information about the
parcel, such as its order number, date of packing, destination, quantity
packed, etc. This information can be sent through the Electronic Data
Interchange (EDI) to the retailer so that he has this information before
the parcel arrives.
• Shipments sent to a Distribution Center (DC) are tracked before
they can be forwarded. At its final destination, the UID is scanned so
that specific store knows the contents of the parcel, its cost, etc.
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