4 Reasons Choosing the Right Barcode Scanner Battery is Critical to Success
Every area of retail operations is vital to the success of the business. Although it might seem as if there are grand differences between them, the reality is they all share one element: the barcode scanner. From inventory control to shrinkage prevention, the barcode scanner is a central tool in any retail environment. Not surprisingly, the battery used to run the device is just as important.
Below are four examples that describe how a small barcode scanner battery can have a huge effect on retail operations:
1. Warehouse: Before products arrive at a retail store, they must first pass through a brief stay at the warehouse. The larger the volume of inventory in the warehouse, the more necessary it is to have a flawless tracking method to stay organized. Barcode scanners help maintain an accurate record of what’s coming in and going out. A long-lasting battery keeps the device working as hard as your employees with a lower chance of inaccuracies due to barcode scanner battery failure. As a result, proper power can facilitate the movement of products from the warehouse to the store.
2. Inventory control: Inventory management is essential to retail. Consumers expect your shelves and racks to be readily stocked when they walk in the door. Precise inventory control keeps track of the amount of product on the floor or in the back — or the lack thereof. Overstocks are just as troublesome as out-of-stocks; the latter will send potential customers running to another store, while the former is a surplus of merchandise that translates to a budget deficit. Barcode scanner battery failure can lead to costly inaccuracies, especially when the user doesn't realize their scanner doesn't have enough power to record the data. Additionally, a battery that doesn't last a full shift requires the employee to pause their task and leave to swap out the dead battery, which lowers productivity and increases the possibility of mistakes if someone else takes over.
3. Loss prevention: Shrinkage is a significant and expensive concern for many retailers. Loss prevention officers alone cannot solve this problem. Correct inventory records are key in prevention. Knowing exactly how much product you have and where it is will help in the fight against shrinkage caused by customer and employee theft. A scanner is as reliable as its power source. A scanner battery that can’t last a full shift may compromise the inventory count, and increase the chances of profit loss.
4. Data management: Technology makes most tasks easier and faster to accomplish with a smaller chance of human error. Barcode scanners have helped speed up inventory management; however, since employees are still responsible, human error is always a concern. Furthermore, even technology fails if its power source does. Retailers can't afford to lose valuable data. It's labor intensive to re-enter everything that was lost or, worse yet, it’s irreplaceable. Time and money are wasted either way. Data serves a higher purpose than simply being a collection of numbers. Upper management use sales and inventory reports to determine the state of their business, then decide what adjustments to make.
All four sectors are fundamental to retail operations. Errors or inadequacies in any of these areas equates to losses, some more significant than others. Considering barcode scanners are mandatory in each situation, it's imperative to use reliable, full-shift power to reduce the possibility of mistakes. The right battery paired with the best device and a dedicated team can make all the difference to the success of a business.
Ken Murphy is the COO of Impact Power Technologies (IPT), a designer and manufacturer of portable power products for land mobile communications, barcode scanners, UPS systems and portable printers.
