Barcodes - a new way of life?

I recently posted a question about how bar codes are used in business. To my surprise I got a variety of answers I did not expect.  I thought I would hear about tracking assets, shipping, receiving, POS systems, but instead I got answers from companies that are using barcodes to track process, an artist who uses barcodes for his inspiration and new uses for barcodes by software companies.

I selected few of these stories to share with you. I hope you will be inspired by them, to explore how bar codes can be used in new ways.

Using Bar codes to track processes:

The first story comes from Cuisine Solutions a leading global manufacturer of frozen entrees and sauces. The company barcodes not only their assets but their actual processes. They produces more than 400 food products, each based on a different recipe. When an employee scans a barcode on a work order, it shows all the items required for that step in the product’s recipe. The employee then scans the pre-measured and barcoded raw materials for the step to ensure that the product contains the right ingredients. In addition notes Ron Zilkowski, CFO “The barcode data also enables the company to improve its products’ traceability and monitor production.”

Using bar codes to market products

The second story comes from a company who created “the world first web enabled cocktail napkin!” The company is calling its invention the ScanNap™. ScanNap is using QR codes in a new way. Their web enabled napkin is capable of launching, delivering and embedding any of your online digital content - from a traditionally printed paper napkin, directly into the consumer’s hand-held mobile device, for just pennies per unit.  For example, we can deliver: digital coupons, promotional codes, exclusive offers, iTunes media file downloads, e-book reader downloads, mobile apps, mobile web sites, non-profit donation pages, streaming audio files, streaming video trailers, social media invitations, event calendars, online order forms, blog invitations, newsletter subscription registration pages, GPS enabled digital location maps, SMS text messages, e-mails and yes - it is even capable of initiating a telephone call directly from the users handset, without the need to dial.  ScanNap™ works on any web enabled camera phone with a code reader. They also have a solution for older phones. Read more about their solution.

Bar Codes for Medical, Health and Everyday Wellness

The third story comes from Paula Patrice of PPweb Technologies, the innovator behind NutriSleuth, an iPhone app scheduled to hit the App Store in late May. In partnership with dietitian Valerie Daley, they created a professional-grade Medical mobile application that determines if you can eat everyday foods. Create and save dietary Nutrition Profiles on your iPhone, then use the phone’s camera to scan the UPC barcode on a product, quickly determining if a food meets your dietary choices, no WiFi access needed.
Paula Patrice describes this scenario: "Mom is grocery shopping for her family. Her husband has a heart condition, her daughter has diabetes, her son has peanut and dairy allergies, and she personally just wants to eat a low fat, high protein diet. Mom picks up a box of crackers- are they safe? A quick scan of the UPC barcode on the package and NutriSleuth gives her a reading: a Red Light showing a conflict with her son’s profile. There’s no need to read the ingredients, she puts the box down and moves on…"
Within seconds of scanning a UPC barcode label, the NutriSleuth app searches a database of +200,000 name-brand grocery store products and delivers instant results. Each user can set severity levels for a multitude of nutritional requirements, including serious medical conditions, and the iPhone application instantly “translates doctor’s orders” about that product into a visual “yes or no”.

I have an inside scoop on this app and will keep you posted with more information when it becomes publicly available.

Using bar Code as Visual Art

Our last story comes from the artist Scott Blake.  The artist uses barcodes in his art. He uses bar codes in a variety of ways. One of them is the creation of portraits made out of barcodes that are then scanned by the individual looking at them. The bar codes then sends the user to various websites with information about the piece that is presented. It gives a new meaning to interactive art.
I recommend you visit his site to learn more about this innovative artist and his very intriguing art. You can purchase barcode art from his site as well.

Mr. Scott Blake's use of barcode made me think about using it in an educational setting. Imagine giving students a picture and handing them a scanner. The students can now truly interact with and explore the subject. Just a thought for the next startup maybe.....

Using barcodes in the traditional way

Vibrant Graphics. The company has been in business for almost 20 years. They wanted to phase out all our their barcode work using the newer technology of digital printing. To their surprise they found out that many of their most loyal customers wanted the "old" barcode labels.  Sarah Emlund, Marketing specialist and customer support explains:
"These labels aren’t glamorous like our digitally printed product labels, but there always seems to be a need for them, even almost 20 years later, and they are complex in their own way." She concludes "For me it shows that old technology still has a place in an ever-changing world, and that barcode labels continue to be extremely functional in our industry."

I agree with her assessment. As you can see barcodes have many uses. Using old technologies or brand new ones. Barcodes do a great job in almost any aspect of our private life and in business.


To learn more about barcodes and how they are being used click here.

Do I need UPC barcode? How do I go about getting one?

UPDATED: Who needs a UPC barcode and what is it for anyway?

You need a UPC barcode for any product you intend to sell through retail shops that use the GS1 database.

A UPC code is the Universal Product Code – it was created to help business sell their goods and retailers capture the information through a simple scan. Every company who is registered with the GS1 gets a 5 digit Company code that is part of the UPC barcode.

The company then creates as many codes as it needs and uploads it to the Global Database. Retailers, who have access to it, can scan the item and all the information is captured.

You do not need a UPC barcode if you plan on selling your product:

1. Online through your own ecommerce website.

2. Online through an auction site such as ebay.

3. Through small retailers

4. In Arts and Crafts shows

5. Directly to the public

Some software systems (POS) require A UPC barcode on the product. As long as the system is not connected to the global database of codes, you can use any series of numbers you would like (within the guidelines of the UPC barcode) to produce your barcode.

You will need to get a UPC barcode if you sell your product through any outlet that uses the Global Database.

The Steps:

1. Go to: http://www.gs1us.org/get-started/im-new-to-gs1-us

2. Fill the Application

3. The last page of the application will give you your fees that are based on Annual Sales (I put $30,000 in my application) and number of products you intend to barcode.

GS1 has lowered their fees for the very small business that may only need few barcodes. This new category is for businesses with 1- 10 products and the annual renewal fee is also more affordable at only $50.00 a year.

1 to 10 Initial Fee: $250, Annual Renewal Fee: $50

1 to 100 Initial Fee: $750, Annual Renewal Fee: $150

1 to 1,000 Initial Fee: $2,500, Annual Renewal Fee: $500

“GS1 US provides a GS1 Company Prefix through its Partner Connections membership that allows you to build many unique and authentic U.P.C. barcode numbers, also known as Global Trade Item Numbers® or GTINs®. No matter what you need, Partner Connections makes it easy for you to meet the barcoding requirements of your retail customers.”

Alternatives:

Use companies such as nationwidebarcode – to obtain only few barcodes. They only charge few dollars for each one. These companies got their UPC company prefixes before 2002 and can sell those legally. Your prefix company information will be their company, but it is a legitimate and working UPC code. Be sure to use a reputable company as there are many fraudulent companies out there.

Additional Information:
Learn more about barcodes and what they mean here.


Read the post about The meaning of the number in a barcode

QR Codes and MSDS

Using QR codes on product labels can revolutionize the way we communicate handling information for hazardous materials and potentially save lives.

As everyone needing to have MSDS (material safety data sheet) knows, it is hard to provide the information on the MSDS in times of emergencies. Although labels contain some of the information on an MSDS, it cannot contain all the information an MSDS will have.

So how do Chemical Companies, Pharmaceutical companies and anyone else needing to make their MSDS available can make them more accessible?

The simplest solution is to add a QR code to the product label. The QR Code can contain a URL (website address) of the MSDS of the product.  Most current mobile phones can read this code with their camera.

What is a QR Code?

A QR Code is a two-dimensional (2d) bar code created by Japanese corporation Denso-Wave in 1994. The "QR" is derived from "Quick Response", as the creator intended the code to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed. Just as the name suggests, adding the QR code to a product label can help the first responders at a time of emergency get all the information they need quickly.

Overview of QR code

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct reader software can scan the image of the QR Code causing the phone's browser to launch and redirect to the programmed URL.  The software required for reading the QR code is readily available from Google, Microsoft, Nokia and iPhone among others.

Many existing label design programs have the capabilities to create these codes. The codes can also be created free of charge on several websites.

Most industrial printers currently in use are capable of printing these codes as well. Although the drawing above has some color in it a QR code does not need to be printed in color in order to work.

 

http://www.tpgtex.com

This particular QR code was created using NiceLabel and printed to PDF file. You can see if your own phone can read this barcode by printing this page and trying to scan it using your cell phone camera.

To get the software go to Mobile-Barcodes website http://bit.ly/9Sg8sz . They offer a full list of QR readers and all the phones that are compatible with each application. The applications are free and easy to use.

Using QR codes on product labels can revolutionize the way we can communicate handling information for hazardous materials and potentially save lives.

Interview with Orit Pennington, Founder of TPGTEX Label Solutions - Starting a Label Company

Interview with Orit Pennington, Founder of TPGTEX Label Solutions - Starting a Label Company

Is a ‘Traffic Light’ Coming to Food Labels? - On Fitness (usnews.com)

Is a ‘Traffic Light’ Coming to Food Labels? - On Fitness (usnews.com)