In over 40 years of use in a great variety of business applications, barcodes have become highly diverse. Companies need to choose which barcode standard and format fits best with their operations and tracking needs. In warehousing and distribution environments, where it can be necessary to record complex, detailed information, GS1-128 is a popular barcode standard. GS1-128 incorporates the high-density Code 128, which can encode all 128 ASCII characters in purely numeric or alphanumeric barcodes. Usually, discussions also refer to the related European Article Number or EAN. You find GS1-128/EAN-128 barcodes in transportation, warehousing, and other supply chain scenarios where it is helpful to record such details as serial numbers, batch numbers, weights, warehouses and warehouse locations, expiration dates, catch weights , and more. In retail, for example, the information tracking needs are typically far less complex, and most companies use a different type of barcode. However, we also see that many companies move to the GS1-128/EAN-128 barcode standard from a simpler format when their information management needs change. With the more complex format, the usefulness of barcoding can vastly increase for companies, which gain greater flexibility and control in tracking items and managing information. To benefit fully from advanced barcoding, companies can take advantage of mobility, enabling workers to read and record barcodes by using mobile scanners, and of printing capabilities for barcoded labels. To-Increase Data Collection Studio 2014 brings GS1-128/EAN-128 barcoding into the Microsoft Dynamics AX environment. Workers can, for example, receive and scan a shipment of barcoded products, and Data Collection Studio immediately records the information in the ERP system. What’s more, Data Collection Studio includes a standard integration to Seagull Scientific Bartender©, the leading barcoding, labeling, and RFID software. That integration supports GS1-128/EAN-128 application identifier printing and has full RFID write support. Data Collection Studio users can design and print labels on mobile printers, as long as they have Windows drivers. Data Collection Studio supports both data bar and matrix barcode formats. In addition to GS1-128/EAN-128, the solution accommodates several other barcoding standards, including EAN-13. The illustration below shows how a GS1-128/EAN-128 barcode translates into the information capture fields in Data Collection Studio. What are the advantages of combining fast, accurate transaction recording with Data Collection Studio and GS1-128/EAN-128 barcodes? For many To-Increase customers, this comes down to cost reductions as a result of faster-moving, more efficient processes and fewer errors in warehouse and supply chain activities. With a single barcode scan, you record all important data right at receiving and whenever goods are picked, consumed, or shipped. Data Collection Studio helps workers improve their performance and managers make smarter decisions more promptly. Transaction data immediately reflect in the ERP system to inform financial, purchasing, and inventory management and planning. The ability to print GS1-128/EAN-128 barcode labels adds to the efficiency of tracking and moving items while maintaining their visibility. These improvements, while noteworthy on their own, contribute to on-time production and increased service-quality levels in the experience of customers. At To-Increase, we watch closely how businesses work and change, and how they benefit from using technology. In planning enhancements for Data Collection Studio, we are evaluating which additional barcode standards the solution should support. We are also looking at electronic data interchange (EDI) and barcode integration. With your ideas, feedback, or questions, please get in touch by contacting To-Increase , sending email to rkhurana [at] to-increase.com, or reaching me on LinkedIn .Image may be NSFW.
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