Keeping track of inventory is critical if you want to expand your ecommerce business. You can monitor inventory levels in real time, prevent stockouts, and develop a better inventory storage system by following these steps.
A wireless barcode inventory scanner is a tool that’s well worth the investment if you want to make managing your inventory easier. Using a barcode reader for inventory management is an excellent ecommerce inventory solution that can automate and streamline the process while also reducing human error.
An inventory scanner system can help you save time and money in the long run by automating the process of gathering and maintaining data. Continue reading to learn more about how inventory scanners operate and how to utilize them.
How do inventory scanners work?
Assuming that you have the product’s barcode, investment scanners read it. The information encoded in the barcode is translated by inventory management software and tracked by a central computer system, much like a shipping barcode. Inventory scanners are wireless, allowing them to be used from anywhere to scan any goods.
4 ways inventory barcode scanners improve your business
Whether you’re running a small or big ecommerce company, an inventory scanner is well worth the money. It organizes your inventory information and solves several common inventory tracking issues, as described below.
1. It eliminates human error and boosts accuracy
Scanners for monitoring and counting inventory might help you save time and money by eliminating the need to manually track and count each item. Inventory scanning is more beneficial than counting and tracking inventory by hand, especially if you have hundreds of items in stock. While the purchase and installation of an inventory tracking system is cost-effective, it will save you and your staff time and money while significantly reducing human error rate.
2. Barcodes are easy to produce and distribute
It’s simple to add barcodes to your items, and it helps avoid mistakes. It won’t cost much to put in place either. You may utilize templates from websites like Avery.com to get started. You can then purchase labels from an office supply shop and print them out to attach to items.
3. Barcodes on your inventory items give you more information
You can find out where the product is stored and how much is available by scanning a barcode. You may easily track inventory by SKU and see how much is in stock and where it’s located in the warehouse by adding a barcode to your product tags. Barcode labels with UPC codes or other sorts of barcodes are more effective at keeping track of stuff.
4. Provides enhanced visibility
Barcodes may be used to track items in several ways. They can also be used to monitor when products are made available and when they reach their delivery destinations. The Inventory and Order Management module enables you to monitor inventory and orders more successfully, giving you complete insight into the inventory and order management process.
You may do it yourself or hire a 3PL to handle the job
Businesses may either keep track of inventory themselves or hire a professional fulfillment provider, also known as a third-party logistics (3PL), to handle warehouse management functions on their behalf after adopting an inventory tracking system.
Running your own inventory system
There are several benefits and drawbacks to maintaining your own inventory and distribution process.
Pros
It might be difficult to maintain an inventory system on your own, but it may be a great choice if you want to get your business up and running quickly during the early phases of development. When you’re starting out, it may be cost-effective, and it allows you to have complete control and insight throughout the process.
Cons
A self-managed inventory system may be harmful to ecommerce company owners who are on their way to greater success and/or shipping thousands of shipments each month. Your inventory management will be neglected, and you’ll miss sales opportunities because of it. As a result, your product development and other crucial business activities will consume much of your time, leaving less time to keep track of inventory accurately. At this point in growth, many ecommerce firms turn to a 3PL for assistance.