All bar codes represent data in a machine readable form. The different widths of bars and spaces in a bar code represent different numbers and letters which can be decoded by a bar code scanner. The scanned data is then sent to a computer system where it is recorded and processed.

Why use bar codes?
Bar codes enable the rapid and unambiguous identification of products, assets, documents, people and much more. Using bar codes can greatly reduce human errors in data entry and processing, eliminate ambiguities caused by inconsistent approaches to product labelling and mistakes in reading handwriting.

Bar codes in the retail supply chain
In retail the benefits to business are significant, from the accurate management of stock levels and the tracking of products throughout the supply chain through to the reduction of product shortages on the store shelf and minimising queues at the check-out.

In the retail supply chain, bar codes are used to identify:

• Consumer goods
• Outer cases and trays
• Logistic units such as pallets, roll-cages, dollies and so on

 

 

Barcodes in healthcare
Measurable improvements in patient safety can be realised when bar coding systems are used to match patients to their care - fewer medication errors, more accurate tracking  and tracing of surgical instruments, equipment and other devices, and enhanced record keeping. Using bar codes to manage supplies can cut costs dramatically as well as improving efficiency.

In healthcare, bar codes are used to identify:

• Hospital patients
• Pharmaceuticals
• Blood supplies and blood products
• Phlebotomy and histopathology samples
• Surgical instruments
• Assets such as computers, mobility aids and prosthetics

 

Bar codes in other sectors
Bar codes bring considerable benefits to supply chain applications in almost any sector. GS1 bar codes are used in over 20 sectors around the world including retail, healthcare, transport and logistics and defence.

Ten Steps to Bar Code Implementation

Case Studies - Implementing GS1 bar Code Standards