15 February 2022 In the current scenario, to maintain market competitiveness and meet customer demands, it is crucial to prioritize high-performance logistics. In this race for efficiency, relying on technological solutions, such as barcode labels, makes a difference. Despite being created four decades ago, barcodes are far from obsolete. In warehouses, they demonstrate their utility by enabling complete control, tracking what, who, and when, providing real-time information thanks to their use in combination with the WMS system. In fact, the use of scanners and barcode labels is no longer considered a differentiating element but practically mandatory. They are increasingly adopted in warehouses to enhance efficiency and reduce errors in receiving, storage, picking, and shipping. With their use, it is possible to store and record data quickly, efficiently, and accurately. This is what you will see next. Role of Barcode Labels in Warehouses In a warehouse, barcode labels are used to identify individual items, addresses, pallets, and shipments. Their effectiveness is conditioned by the use of the WMS system, which handles “reading” the information contained in the code, recording it in a database, and managing it to automate key processes. With barcode identification, there is no need to manually record or note data, which means there is no room for errors. Moreover, all recording happens extremely quickly and, most importantly: this data is easily accessible and available in real-time. In this sense, the use of barcode labels integrated into the WMS system can be extremely advantageous in processes such as: Receiving Storage Replenishment Sorting Packing Shipping Returns Inventory Labor Tracking Value-added Functions By beeping on products, pallets, addresses, and packages during the execution of processes, operators are able to perform their tasks more agilely and assertively. Additionally, they provide information at all times so that the operation functions synchronously and with high performance. Advantages of Using Barcodes in Operations Discover the main advantages provided: Fewer Errors and More Speed If properly integrated with a WMS, the use of barcode labels and scanners has the potential to reduce data entry errors to almost zero and increase the speed of information collection in the stages of receiving, picking, shipping, and inventory management. To give an idea of the agility provided, it is estimated that the time taken to read a 12-character barcode label is equal to pressing two keys. In this way, by implementing the technology, companies are able to reduce the order cycle, managing to fulfill more requests each day, in other words, making room for growth. It is worth adding that the rapid and accurate data acquisition also benefits the flow of information between the company and the customer. Since items and loads are scanned during order fulfillment, the information can be shared with customers or integrated systems. Cost Reduction Warehouses that do not use barcodes for scanning and data acquisition take much longer to execute processes, which means higher operational costs. Additionally, errors made with manual typing also incur expenses for the operation. Greater Inventory Accuracy With the use of the WMS and the barcode reading system, inventory accuracy increases in several ways. Firstly, because the accuracy of the records is enormous: it is estimated that the error margin is one in every 70 million characters. Secondly, because the beeps during the execution of the process allow for immediate data updates, maintaining their accuracy. Moreover, with cycle counts, inserted into the warehouse routine and performed in very short times, the manager is able to identify discrepancies in time to manage them, increasing inventory accuracy. Greater Traceability The traceability of movements and product information is essential in every warehouse. In companies operating in the food or pharmaceutical sector, for example, it is more than important: it is a mandatory action to comply with regulatory bodies. In this sense, the use of barcode labels forms the basis for the warehouse to meet the requirements, assertively controlling batches and expiration dates. Labor Management The acquisition of barcode data during task execution allows for monitoring employee performance, enabling managers to measure their productivity and make changes for continuous improvement. Reduced Training Time Using a barcode system in a process is easy to learn and can reduce employee training time. In just a few minutes, the employee masters the handheld reader, eliminating the need for several hours of training to perform manual processes. Foundation for Future Automation Barcodes are an essential technology for the operation of automatic picking, transport, and sorting systems. In this sense, they provide the foundation for future automation projects. Enhanced Dashboards and Panels The amount of data potentially available in intralogistics operations is infinite; however, in manual operations, much of it is inaccessible. Barcodes integrated with the WMS allow for complete information recording, with real-time availability (learn more about Visual Management). Together with the data, the WMS provides panels and dashboards accessible by both managers and made available to employees on monitors distributed throughout the warehouse. In this way, they are able to self-manage, avoiding errors and delays. The result is a significant increase in productivity. Therefore, it is a technology that supports not only those who perform the work but also the managers. Have you noticed how important barcodes are for logistics warehouses, right? If you want to implement them in your business, start with the WMS. How can barcode labels improve the efficiency of your warehouse? Deagor WMS per ecommerce può aiutarti!