Jump to content

Bar code tracking?


rodney69

Recommended Posts

Is there way to read what information is in a bar code? I have a competitor that uses a bar code on each machine at locations. Is that just to track what machine it is? Or is it part of a program that you can pull up the info and input notes about the machine, location and so on?

 

I don't care what his says, but if that is a new way of tracking, I want in! He's younger by far, like 20's, so he may be a little more involved in the computer line than I am.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is there way to read what information is in a bar code? I have a competitor that uses a bar code on each machine at locations. Is that just to track what machine it is? Or is it part of a program that you can pull up the info and input notes about the machine, location and so on?

 

I don't care what his says, but if that is a new way of tracking, I want in! He's younger by far, like 20's, so he may be a little more involved in the computer line than I am.

If you happen to come across him, I would pick his brain on the subject. Kinda like getting it from the horses mouth.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Go to the app store, there should be some apps.

Or take a pic and Ill see what I can do.

I'll do that, thanks

The bar code is for asset identification. The operator uses it to input data into a file for that specific machine. You cannot access the file by scanning the code.

I'm not worried about any of his info, just like the idea to see if I can use a similar program myself.

I'm going to have someone run many route for me and I'm trying to figure out the best way to do it.

I know the owner of it has several running his route.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll do that, thanks

I'm not worried about any of his info, just like the idea to see if I can use a similar program myself.

I'm going to have someone run many route for me and I'm trying to figure out the best way to do it.

I know the owner of it has several running his route.

It's probably a homecooked program.

Any decent freelance software guy should be able to whip one up for you.

Most likely you would need a tablet with cellular data, use the camera to scan the bar code and have the program pull up the file associated with that code and thus machine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I like the idea  of using a barcode or QR code on each machine.  I would just put them in an inconspicuous spot, like inside a door on an arcade machine or under the lid on a bulk machine.  I'm pretty sure if kids (or adults that are jerks) see something that might be important to you, they will peel off or damage the label.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There are means to generate QR codes and print them. There was a service online that was for scrapbooking, of all things, that allowed you to turn web links into QR codes you could scan with your phone. Basic stuff, but if you had it hooked up to a basic website or something like that, you could connect your machines to a virtual file in the cloud or elsewhere, at least in theory. I'd considered trying it out in the summer of 2013, but never got around to it. The downside there is that with a program like that it would be public data to anyone with a QR reader.

 

Interesting idea though- a little involved for a bulk operation I'd think, but still a very cool idea.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm thinking of just doing a bar code so out shows the service history, or that it was serviced and maybe just notes.

Even though it's not a full time job by any means, I'm going to have someone run it so I can focus my attention on locating for a year or so till it's set up better.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You can use Google Drive, more specifically Google Spreadsheets. If you create a data entry form, you can select the account, and add other data points to the entry form, like product or revenue. Google automatically places a time stamp on every entry. A small operator would be just fine using the cloud based system. I did a trial with one route for about 6 months. I think that Excel pivot tables are much more powerful for analyzing and filtering data. If you use Google, you can still filter raw data in new tabs, but the more calculations you ask the spreadsheet to perform, the flower the program runs. My spreadsheet would take a couple minutes to load. It's actually easier and faster to copy the raw data and exported to Excel.

The biggest issue with entering the name of an account is that if you misspell the name, the spreadsheet filter will not pick it up. You can use Google Spreadsheets and manually enter all of your account names into the data entry form. When you pull up the form, you can have a multiple choice for a drop down menu to select the account. Thus, you avoid misspelling errors. The other good thing about a form based data entry, is that your employees have no access to the data, therefore the only person that can screw it up is you!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've thought about bar codes. Scan it, and it knows which machine you are servicing.

 

But then I think I already have a record of every machine, and where they are located, so it seems to add an unnecessary step. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...