The retail industry is fast-paced and markdowns and markups are a regular occurrence to keep up with competitor pricing, discount slow-moving items and adjust to market changes.  End-to-end retail mobility solutions enable employees to accurately adjust pricing right on the sales floor and reduce the possibility of error.  With mobile computers you can scan the item bar code to receive improved visibility and accountability into price change execution.  According to a National Retail Security Survey, administrative and paperwork errors make up approximately 15% of shrink and simple pricing mistakes due to markups or markdowns can cost retailers quite a bit.  When combined with a mobile printer, not only can you eliminate these costly errors, but you can also eliminate the need to travel back and forth to the back room to print shelf labels.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about retail mobility solutions that increase the accuracy and efficiency of price changes.

You may have noticed that many large retailers and restaurants are beginning to adopt mobile coupons and are taking advantage of this new marketing tool.  Mobile coupons drive awareness so that retailers can increase sales and promote loyalty without customers being hassled with clipping coupons.  A recent report by ABI Research reported that 63% of consumers feel that a coupon is the most valuable form of mobile marketing.

The most secure form of mobile couponing is the transmission of a bar code to a cell phone screen that is then scanned at the POS checkout.  This form of mobile couponing is very similar to mobile ticketing and 2D bar codes are best suited for these applications.  2D symbols like the Aztec code place critical data at the center of the code where mobile display screens are brightest to ensure the best reads possible.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about mobile coupon solutions and 2D bar code scanners.

In our March 11th post I briefly described the two types of 2D bar codes—stacked and matrix.  Today I’d like to provide some additional information about stacked 2D symbols.

Stacked symbols started as 1D linear codes such as Code 39 and Code 128 that were then stacked in layers to create multi-row symbols.  These first symbols included Code 49 and Code 16K.  Stacked symbols later evolved to include PDF417 which provided features to increase data capacity, improve data density and strengthen reading reliability.  PDF417 also incorporated error detection and correcting techniques.  Another type of 2D stacked symbology is SuperCode, this code breaks data into smaller packets and can be used to create symbols in a variety of different shapes.  2D stacked codes are used in a variety of industries and applications, such as:

• Healthcare
• Identification cards
• Inventory management

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about bar code scanners and label software that support 2D stacked bar codes.

Transforming the shopping experience is a great way to maintain customer loyalty.  Mobile solutions provide the convenience and personalized shopping experience your customers are looking for.  With the correct technology in place, the opportunities to increase customer satisfaction are almost limitless.  There are a variety of mobile applications designed to enhance the shopping experience and we’ve discussed some of these in the past, but today I’d like to look at some specific examples of solutions that transform the shopping experience.

• In-store ordering via Micro Kiosks-provide your customers with the convenience of ordering items from side departments (such as the deli) at the beginning of their shopping trip.  This eliminates the need for customers to wait in line to place their order and then wait again for the order to be completed.  Everything is taken care of while the customer is shopping and can be picked up when they’re ready to checkout.
• Dressing room assistance-provide your customers with a mobile application that ensures immediate response from an employee to help them locate the correct item in the correct size.
• Online order pickup via Micro Kiosks-provide your customers with a quick and easy way to complete online orders.  A store associate is immediately notified once the bar code is scanned and the order is delivered to the customer at the checkout.  This enables a speedy checkout and eliminates the frustration of waiting in multiple lines to receive an online order.

Lets’ Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about mobile solutions that transform the shopping experience.

In our post yesterday we discussed various track and trace solutions that utilize bar codes and RFID to increase patient safety and satisfy regulatory requirements.  Thermal printing is the preferred technology to create bar codes and RFID labels for track and trace solutions.  Thermal printing provides secure labeling and ensures that you can meet traceability and labeling requirements.  In fact, thermal printers are the only technology that offers on-demand unit-level bar codes and RFID labels.  With thermal technology you’re able to:

• Print on a variety of secure media
• Encode RFID chips
• Produce numerous bar code symbologies
• Process variable data
• Produce on-demand high quality labels quickly

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about thermal printers and how they enhance track and trace solutions.

DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. (OTCBB:DNPI) announced yesterday that the United States Air Force has issued a supplemental order for $654,608 for additional BITS (Barcode Inventory Tracking System) Kits to augment an ongoing $7 million program for tracking “Go To War” equipment support units.  The BITS Kits include software and handheld mobile devices that support bar code technology to ensure efficient management of mission-critical inventory.

You can read the entire press release “US Air Force Reserve Awards DecisionPoint Ensuing Order to Augment Ongoing $7 Million Inventory Tracking Program” for more information.

Lets’ Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about inventory management systems that utilize automated data collection.

Do you find yourself coming across industry acronyms you’re unfamiliar with?  In the world of bar code, RFID and mobile solutions it’s easy to get stumped.  If you’re looking for some help, you can visit the DecisionPoint Glossary of Industry Acronyms.  This useful reference lists some of the common and not so common acronyms used within the industry.

Let’s Get Mobile! Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about mobile solutions that utilize the latest wireless and RFID technologies.

It’s time again to take a closer look at a bar code symbology! 

SCC-14, also known as the Shipping Container Code, is used for fixed-content shipping containers.  This 14-digit symbology has two different representations, UCC/EAN 128 format or the ITF-14 format which is based on Interleaved 2 of 5.  The most widely used bar code representation is the UCC/EAN 128 with Application Identifier (AI) 01 pictured at right.  SCC-14 consists of 14 digits, including a check digit that is calculated the same way as a UPC/EAN check digit. 

SCC-14 bar codes include the following pieces of data:

• Digit 1- Package Indicator (PI)
• Digits 2-3- UPC numbering system/EAN country prefix
• Digits 4-8- Manufacturer code
• Digits 9-13- Item identification number
• Digit 14- Check digit

Because SCC-14 is used for marking and labeling containers that hold products marked with UPC-A or EAN-13 bar codes, these codes are included in the SCC-14 code.  The digits from position 2-13 are the UPC-A or EAN-13 code that is encoded on the products within the case.

The packaging indicator is determined by what is in the container.  A PI of 0 is used to indicate a container that doesn’t have similar items or items without the same UPC or EAN.  PI’s of 1-8 differentiate between cases with different quantities of the same item.  And a PI of 9 indicates that the number of items in each case varies and isn’t fixed.

Unlike a UPC or EAN, you don’t have to register for an SCC-14 number.  It can be produced following the rules above and created with bar code label software.

Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about bar code labeling software that supports SCC-14.

It’s been awhile since we provided a post about a bar code symbology, so today we’re going to take a look at GS1 DataBar.  The GS1 DataBar family of symbols was formerly known as RSS symbols or Reduced Space Symbols because of their ability to carry more information and identify small hard-to-mark products.  In addition to promising more data in less space, GS1 DataBar has some unique features that support product authentication and traceability.

GS1 DataBar enables Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) identification and supports Application Identifiers (AI).  This enables the symbol to hold additional information such as expiration date, lot numbers and serial numbers.  The primary focus for GS1 DataBar is to provide a solution that supports traceability and authentication to improve the quality of fresh products scanned at POS. 

Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about GS1 DataBar.

Motorola recently announced the introduction of extended-range (ER) scanning technology to their line of MC9090-G handheld RFID readers.  The MC9090-G RFID ER has all of the first-class features of the existing MC9090-G, but enables extended-range bar code scanning for increased flexibility.  In addition to reading 2D bar codes, RFID tags and capturing images, you’ll have the ability to capture 1D bar codes as close as 4 inches to as far as 40 feet away.  The MC9090-G RFID ER is so flexible it can be used across your entire enterprise to boost productivity.  And the MC9090-G RFID ER has the same rugged design as the entire MC9090-G family, making it perfect for extreme environments like the warehouse and loading dock.  You can check out this MC9090-G Crash Test Video from a previous post to see exactly what I mean.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for more information about the new MC9090-G Extended Range Handheld RFID Reader.