Vehicle inspections, asset inspections, customer surveys, smart meter installations, safety audits – are all examples of how our customers use the inspections and surveys module.  We’ve added features to address some important demands:

• Completely new dispatch board that allows simultaneously showing dispatch schedules for users, roles/groups, assets (ex. trucks) and trips.  From one scheduling screen you can see, track and manage inspections, orders, loads or anything that can be scheduled. (server)
• Integration with other mobile modules to dynamically populate surveys from current forms.  For example, if you are making a delivery and the driver needs to create a survey for that order, the survey can be pre-populated with fields from that order such as customer name, address, order number, etc.  This eliminates drivers rekeying info on surveys. (mobile)
• Easy batching of dispatches. For customers who create 100’s of dispatches at a time for users, you can specify that only the next X number will be auto-sync’d. For AMR installations, customer canvassing or other large scale inspections, this is a huge benefit to mobile users as well as dispatchers. (server)
• Survey printing using HTML templates to any supported printer such as the Zebra RW420 or Intermec PB41, PB42 or PB52. You can easily add and edit your own print templates. The printing template makes it super easy for you to print well formatted receipts of surveys in the field. Template updates are automatically synchronized without having to package for deployment. (mobile and server)
• Improved barcode scanning support with customer specified lookups such as assets.  (mobile)
• Execute server tasks when surveys are saved so you can selectively take actions such as creating work orders or sending emails with survey results.  This is very powerful and a number of customers are using it to automatically handle post-save actions.  We have an API for adding your own extensions. (server)
• Bulk dispatch importing – you can import dispatches from comma separated value (CSV/Excel) files to automatically create dispatches and assign them to a user. For example, if you have an Excel file containing customers, addresses, etc., you can map the CSV columns to survey fields, automatically assign to a user or group and create the dispatches.  You can save the import template for quickly repeating the import. (server)
• GPS timestamping in the background – surveys can be set to automatically try to get a GPS stamp in the background so you can track where surveys are completed. (mobile)

For a demo of new features, please contact us.

Choosing a barcode scanner can be a challenging task if you don’t have a lot of experience.  This is a quick overview of what you should know when selecting barcode scanners.

1D or 2D?

The first question you need to ask is what type of barcode you will be scanning:  1D or 2D.  This is important because a 1D scanner cannot scan 2D barcodes, although 2D scanners can scan 1D barcodes.  A 1D barcode has black vertical lines and looks like:

1D barcodes have a range of symbologies:  code39, code128 and UPC are typical.  UPC (Universal Product Codes) barcodes are what is found on merchandise and store products, whereas the other symbologies are typically used for internal tracking such as manufacturer serial numbers, inventory locations, etc.  Most scanners are configurable to filter out and read only the symbologies you specify.  If you don’t know the symbology you are using, you should check to confirm that the scanner can read it if you elect to use a 1D scanner.

2D barcodes store more information than 1D, but they require a 2D reader.  Common examples of 2D include drivers license, FedEx and UPS package tracking.  Benefits of 2D include being able to read the barcode even if a portion of the label is damaged or obscured.

Most people need 1D barcode scanners.

Imager or Laser Barcode Scanner?

Laser barcode scanners read 1D barcodes. Most new handheld, PDA or mobile scanners have converted and use an imager. An imager allows you to read 1D or 2D, although when you purchase the scanner you should be careful to specify that you need to read 2D barcodes even if it says in includes an imager.

Laser scanners emit a thin red line of light (the laser) which reads the barcode. Many imagers also emit a red line of light to help the user target what they are scanning.  Imagers tend to read broken or dirty barcodes better than laser scanners.

Mobile, Handheld or Fixed?

The form factor for scanners varies by the type of application. Most of our customers use handheld scanners built into rugged mobile devices like Intermec CN3, CN50 or Motorola MC55 or MC75 devices.  These scanners are built into mobile computers and mobile software application talks directly to the scanner using the scanner API.  Examples of mobile computer scanner applications include:

• Inventory counts
• Proof of Delivery
• Asset tracking and audits
• Inspections
• Operator rounds

Motorola MC55	Intermec CN3

Mobile computer scanners range in price from $1250 to $3000+.

Handheld barcode scanners are dedicated devices that usually are connected to a PC or terminal.  With handheld scanners, it is up to the PC to handle the application and processing of the barcode. These are usually seen in retail environments at the Point of Sale (POS) or mounted on forklifts where an operator has a terminal on the forklift and uses the scanner to confirm what they load. 

Handheld scanners usually connect via the serial port and can work wirelessly (e.g. Bluetooth or proprietary) or tethered.  If wireless, they can scan anywhere from 2 – 30 feet away from the host computer.

Most handheld scanners have an option to take whatever is scanned and put it in the keyboard buffer, which makes it appear that someone typed the barcode value. When operating in this mode, it is simple to use with existing applications. You should check with each type of scanner to ensure it supports this, otherwise you will need to ensure it has drivers to support your operating system. Most support Window; however, that does not mean they support Windows CE which is usually the OS on forklift terminals. 

If you elect to use a BlueTooth scanner, you need to ensure it supports your device. For instance, if you want to scan to a phone or PDA, you need to ensure the scanner has drivers. Just because you have a Blackberry device with Bluetooth, do not assume at Bluetooth scanner will work.

Handheld scanners like the Motorola LS 2208 are around $200. Tethered scanners can be less than $100.  Bluetooth scanners like the Baracoda or Socket scanner are $400-$600.

 Motorola LS 2208

A third option is a fixed mount scanners. These scanners are usually installed on conveyor belts.  Self-serve grocery checkout stands and store price lookups also have fixed mount scanners. With fixed mount scanners, you have to ensure the barcode will pass within a readable distance and at a suitable angle. Grocery store checkout stands have multiple scanners to address this. In applications like conveyor belts, fixed mount scanners can be tied to light-activated sensors so the scanner is activated when the light beam is broken. This enables you to 1) know when you should expect to read a barcode 2) control the time to read a barcode.

Fixed mount scanners for industrial type use can range in price from $500 – $1500. 

Keyence  BL-1300

If you have questions on scanners, please enter a comment or submit a question.  We work with a number of companies and can assist in scanner selection as well as barcode label generation.