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Selecting a barcode to suit the application
There are many factors to be taken into account when selecting a barcode for an application
The preceding articles in this series have so far provided guidance on the type of barcodes in common use and provided an indication of the end-use sectors and application where each type of code might be used. However, there many factors to be taken into account when selecting a barcode for use in any particular application.
These include:
- Where the code is to be scanned or read. Point-of-sale, industrial, logistics, corrugated shipping containers, pharmacy, automotive, etc?
- What character sets are required. Numeric only or alphanumeric?
- The amount of space available for the code on the label or pack
- The type of reading technology being used or to be used. Pen, wand, scanner or camera?
- The substrate that the code is to be printed on. Rough, smooth, etc?
- Is there a need for the barcode to be printed in a color, or printed on a colored background?
- The number of characters that need to be incorporated in the code
- Is there a particular International Standard that needs to be used?
- What code density is required to fit the necessary numbers into a given space?
- What barcode gives the best and most accurate readability for the application?
- Is the chosen barcode compatible with the reading/scanning technology in the customer plant or application?
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