Ways Contactless Technology Is Changing Leisure and Hospitality
A study published in the International Hospitality Review shared that the tourism and leisure industry is moving towards adopting contactless technology. These changes are due to companies now seeing a trend that most customers are willing to revisit innovative properties. Digital transformation is indeed changing and reshaping how different industries work.
How Covid-19 Affected Leisure and Hospitality Industry?
In a report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization, in 2020 international tourists' arrival is down by 20% to 30% in 2020 versus the same period in 2019. The unprecedented travel restrictions have disrupted operations for numerous chains around the world. Businesses of all sizes faced serious challenges. Most affected are those in the tourism, aviation, leisure, and hospitality industries.
Following border closures, travel bans, and quarantine measures, workers are unable to carry out their jobs adding more problems to the struggling industry. In fact, the World Travel & Tourism Council also shared that the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to a cut of 50 million jobs in the tourism and travel sector worldwide.
These rapid changes have also evolved customers' preferences. It forced traditional leisure and hospitality brands to explore news to encourage more customers to visit their properties. Adapting contactless technology is one of these unique changes.
What Is Contactless Guest Experience?
Contactless technology is the perfect solution to ensuring customers have a great experience in any type of property. In addition, it is also a future-proof technology. The contactless guest experience uses technology that allows customers to get in touch wirelessly. It reduces face-to-face interaction for transactions like check-ins and check-outs, payments, bookings and more.
Implementing Contactless Technology
- Contactless check-in & check-out - Upon arrival hotels and resorts can utilize contactless technology to welcome guests into the property. An application, barcodes, and purposely built software can be very useful for this. Upon checking out, guests can review charges and complete final payments with a single tap using a device strategically placed in the property or through an application.
- Amenity access - Getting into resort amenities like the beach or pool can be easily achieved using smart devices. As a result, the leisure and hospitality sectors enable guests to have complete control over their sites while ensuring social distancing.
- Improve customer experience - Contactless technology allows guests to have total control of their stay. For example, they can check-in or out late, choose their room preferences, and even add extra to their stay.
- Customized customer loyalty - Innovative technology allows hotels and resorts to push loyalty and rewards in real-time.
Benefits of Contactless Technology
Utilizing innovative contactless solutions means your business is concerned with customer comfort and safety. This is crucial especially in an industry that is struggling during the worldwide pandemic.
Contactless technology minimizes interactions (and possible transmission of diseases) in three main areas:
- employee to employee
- employee to customer
- customer to customer
Contactless technology gain popularity thanks to a range of benefits for both businesses and their customers.
- facilitation of staff daily tasks becomes automated;
- real-time management statistics and analytics delivery is improved;
- support of management operations because less difficult;
- records of customers personal data get better protection;
- increased revenue;
- enhanced control levels and security measures;
- maintenance of safe distancing between employees and customers.
Conclusion
Most sectors around the world have been hit hard economically due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The hospitality industry has suffered its toughest years on record. It is arguably the industry that is having the most difficulty in enacting COVID-19 safety protocols. Therefore, implementing new and smart technology should provide changes to the industry.
Using technology such as rugged devices are part of the daily operations will help improve customer experience. Get to know the best-rugged devices by Conker used in numerous properties and hotel chains around the world here. Conker offers rugged devices that feature 2D barcode scanners which support a range of contactless technology applications.
Scanning Barcode Technology: Improving Warehouse Accuracy and Efficiency in 2023
Barcode technology has revolutionised the way businesses manage inventory and streamline operations. From retail to healthcare, logistics to manufacturing, barcode scanning is an essential tool for enhancing accuracy and efficiency in supply chain management.
In this article, we’ll explore how barcode scanning technology, including data matrix codes, can help improve warehouse accuracy and efficiency. It’s a quick and easy way to identify and manage items, which is why it’s a go-to for many warehouses. Barcoding is the most cost-effective method of product tracing across various industries.
Barcodes provide automatic identification of products, fast recognition, and efficient implementation of data. Barcode labels are highly cost-effective, even when dealing with complex applications. Additionally, barcodes help to reduce capital costs by preventing the need to carry excess inventory, as they provide accurate information on what is in stock and prevent over-ordering.
Many companies are planning to upgrade their warehouse mobile devices because of these benefits. Barcodes allow businesses to track the “who,” “what,” and “when” of any activities within the warehouse. It is not surprising that businesses with portable barcode scanners are enjoying the efficiency that barcoding brings.
Whether you’re a warehouse manager, a logistics professional, or simply interested in learning more about the benefits of barcode scanning technology, this article will provide invaluable insights into how a barcode reader can improve accuracy and efficiency in supply chain management.
How Does A Barcode Scanner Work?
Barcode technology involves the use of a barcode scanner, which is a handheld device that reads information encoded in a barcode. When a barcode is scanned, the scanner uses a laser or camera to read the pattern of bars and spaces that make up the barcode. This pattern represents a unique identification number that is associated with a specific product, inventory item, or other data.
There are several types of barcodes that a warehouse might use these include:
- UPC (Universal Product Code) – used in retail for product identification and inventory management. UPC barcodes also have additional subtypes such as UPC A and UPC E.
- EAN (European Article Number) – similar to UPC and used for product identification in Europe
- Code 39 – used for alphanumeric data and inventory management
- Code 128 – is a barcode type that is used for alphanumeric data and more complex supply chain management
- QR (Quick Response) Code – can store more information than traditional barcodes and is used for a variety of purposes including advertising and product tracking
- Data Matrix – similar to a QR code and used for tracking and managing inventory and products
- PDF417 – is a barcode type used for storing large amounts of data, often used in transportation and logistics
- MaxiCode – used for package tracking and high-speed scanning
- Aztec Code – used for tracking and managing inventory in small spaces
- Interleaved 2 of 5 – used for inventory management and product identification
These are just a few examples of the many types of barcodes used today. Each barcode type has its own specific use case and advantages, and businesses may choose to use different types of barcodes depending on their needs and industry.
By using a scanner to read the unique identification number encoded in a barcode, warehouses can then use this data to track inventory, manage data, and improve accuracy and efficiency in supply chain management.
Advantages of using barcode technology in warehouse management
Improved accuracy
A study conducted by PeopleVOX revealed that the leading problem in warehousing operations is human error, accounting for approximately 46% of all issues.
Barcode scanning is much more accurate than manual data entry, reducing the risk of errors and improving inventory accuracy.
Increased efficiency
Utilising a barcode scanner is a faster alternative to manual data entry, enabling workers to complete tasks more efficiently and boosting overall productivity.
Real-time tracking
Barcode scanning enables real-time tracking of inventory, making it easier for managers to monitor stock levels and adjust orders as necessary. Implementing barcode scanners can increase efficiency and conserve resources, particularly when onboarding new employees. Instead of training staff on an entire inventory of products, a barcode scanner can automate much of the work.
Improved inventory management
Zoho’s report indicates that accidental redundancy, picking errors, a disorganised warehouse layout, and inadequate preparation for seasonal demands continue to pose significant challenges for many warehouses. However, implementing a barcode reader can simplify inventory tracking and reduce the risk of stockouts and overstocking by keeping tabs on inventory levels and movements.
Reduced labour costs
Using devices that read barcodes reduces the need for manual data entry and paperwork, saving time and reducing labour costs.
Better decision-making
By having access to real-time data on inventory levels and movements, managers can make better-informed decisions regarding purchasing, production, and supply chain management.
Enhanced customer service
Barcode technology enables faster and more accurate order fulfilment, reducing delivery times and improving customer satisfaction.
The utilisation of barcode technology can offer substantial advantages for warehouse management, including enhanced accuracy, efficiency, and inventory management, while also reducing labour costs and improving decision-making. By adopting barcode technology in their operations, businesses can gain a competitive edge in the fast-paced and data-driven marketplace of today.
Rugged Devices With Barcode Scanners Vs Commercial Devices
Barcode scanners are essential tools for efficient warehouse management, but not all scanners are created equal. While commercial mobile phones like Android and iPhone can be used for barcode scanning, they are not always the best choice for rugged warehouse environments. Rugged devices with integrated barcode scanners offer several advantages over commercial mobile phones, including:
- Durability – Rugged devices are built to withstand harsh environments and can handle drops, vibrations, and extreme temperatures better than commercial mobile phones.
- Longer battery life – Rugged devices typically have larger batteries than commercial mobile phones, allowing for longer usage times and reducing the need for frequent charging. With longer battery life, your teams can scan through multiple shifts.
- Better scanning performance – Rugged devices with integrated barcode scanners are specifically designed for fast and accurate scanning, with advanced scanning technologies and better optics.
- Improved ergonomics – Rugged devices with integrated barcode scanners are designed for comfortable use over long periods of time, with ergonomic handles and buttons that are easy to use even while wearing gloves.
- Enhanced connectivity – Rugged devices often have better connectivity options than commercial mobile phones, with features like 4G LTE, GPS, and Bluetooth for improved communication and tracking.
- Security – Rugged devices are often more secure than commercial mobile phones, with features like encryption and secure boot for protection against cyber threats.
Using rugged devices with integrated barcode scanners can significantly improve efficiency and accuracy in warehouse management, especially in rugged and challenging environments. By investing in the right technology, businesses can optimise their operations and gain a competitive edge in today’s fast-paced marketplace.
Tips on How to Get the Most Out of Barcoding
- Include your label manufacturer and vendors on the planning team. Your label manufacturers can help in the installation process. Furthermore, the vendors can also help ease the installation process by labelling the products beforehand, provided that they also have the technology.
- Choose which kind of barcode works best for your facility. There are two kinds of barcodes, a 1D barcode (also known as linear barcodes) or a 2d barcode (e.g., QR code). Barcodes should be selected and labelled based on the environment in which they will be used, taking into consideration factors such as foot traffic, temperature, and durability requirements.
The installation process for barcode technology can be a bit laborious, and there are associated costs, but the overall benefits far outweigh these expenses.
Four reasons why barcoding is so helpful in increasing a company’s accuracy and efficiency
- Mistakes are less likely to happen
Human errors can have severe consequences for businesses. Mistakes in manually entering data on receiving documents, transfers, and cycle counts can result in inaccuracies. Furthermore, there is a risk of items being misplaced. Such errors can have a range of negative impacts on businesses, including damage to reputation and loss of sales. In contrast, barcode scanning is 99.9% accurate, eliminating the risk of human error.
If barcoding is implemented in your warehouse, simple mistakes can be avoided completely. With barcoding, you can save money, time, and energy.
- It makes an employee’s work easier
In a warehouse without barcoding, employees must constantly move back and forth to access inventory. With mobile barcode scanning devices, however, employees can quickly retrieve items and get to work immediately, saving time and reducing workload. Barcoding significantly streamlines warehouse operations.
- Processes are much faster with barcoding
Training employees to use barcode devices is relatively easy since barcoding is a simple tool. Barcoding is also the fastest way to streamline processes, as scanning a barcode is quick and instantaneous. This reduces the overall workload and minimises the time required to complete tasks.
- Accuracy = Efficiency
Barcodes are highly beneficial in managing inventory and tracking key performance indicators in a facility. They assist in monitoring the accuracy of inventory levels and shelf life of items, reducing the workload significantly. Barcodes can also enhance a company’s performance by providing valuable insights into the inventory management process.
Conclusion
Implementing barcode technology in a warehouse is crucial for cost reduction and achieving higher throughput. If your business aims to minimise errors, enhance warehouse operations’ efficiency, and capture information quickly, using warehouse barcode scanners is essential.
Conker’s rugged devices go beyond the features of standard mobile phones, providing excellent durability and functionality.
Conker is a company that specialises in rugged mobile devices for various industries, including warehousing, logistics, manufacturing, and retail. Our devices are built to withstand harsh environments, drops, water, and dust, making them ideal for use in tough working conditions.
A standout feature of Conker’s rugged devices is their built-in barcode scanners. These scanners make it easy for workers to quickly and accurately scan barcodes, improving inventory management and reducing errors. With real-time data on inventory levels and movement, a user can make better-informed decisions about purchasing, production, and supply chain management.
In addition to their barcode scanning capabilities, Conker’s rugged devices also come with other useful features, such as long battery life, fast processing speeds, and multiple connectivity options. This makes them highly versatile and suitable for a wide range of applications.
Furthermore, Conker is committed to providing excellent customer service and support. Our team of experts is available to assist with device setup, training, and troubleshooting, ensuring that businesses can fully utilise the benefits of their rugged devices.
Overall, Conker’s rugged devices, equipped with barcode scanning technology, offer a range of benefits for businesses, including improved accuracy, efficiency, and inventory management, while reducing labour costs and improving decision-making. With their durable construction and versatile features, they are a valuable investment for any business operating in challenging environments.
To find the right rugged device for your needs, contact Conker today.
How to scan a barcode
There are many different situations whereby you may find yourself needing to scan a barcode. From getting the price of something in-store to effectively storing products in a warehouse, scanning a barcode can be central to ensuring that everything is organized and operating as it should be. Therefore, it can be essential to provide your workers with a barcode scanner in many different industries and work environments.
No matter what you need barcode scanning for, one thing you will want is the ease of operation! There is nothing worse than finding yourself having to try 10 different angles in order to get the barcode to scan, is there? That is why we have put this post together; to help you get a better understanding of how to scan a barcode without feeling like you want to throw the device out of the window! So, let’s take a look at everything you need to know about successful barcode scanning.
What is a barcode?
We have all seen barcodes many times before. We know that they feature different-sized black stripes. But what is this? Barcodes encode information using visual patterns. This information can be read by a machine, i.e. a barcode scanner.
Barcodes are used for a number of different reasons, including tracking stock levels, prices, and products for centralized recording in a computer software system.
Do you know where the first barcode appeared? This was actually back in 1974, with the barcode featuring on a packet of chewing gum from the Wrigley Company.
Today, you can find barcodes on pretty much every item that is available for sale within a store, as well as any inventory that is waiting to be shipped to a consumer or store premises.
From small-town, local business stores to worldwide powerhouses like Amazon, they all use barcode scanners when they are sending out their online orders.
The two types of barcodes
Did you know that there are actually two different types of barcodes? You have 2D and linear barcodes.
The most recognizable barcode is the UPC barcode, with UPC standing for Universal Product Code. This is a linear barcode that has two parts; a 12-digit UPC number and the barcode itself. The manufacturer’s identification number makes up the first six numbers of the barcode. You then have the item’s number, which is represented by the next five numbers.
The final number is what we call a check digit, which allows the scanner to decipher whether or not the barcode has been scanned properly.
A linear barcode will typically hold any type of text information. However, on the other hand, a 2D barcode is more complicated. It can incorporate more details within the code. For example, it can hold information regarding the web address, quantity, price, or image.
You need to make sure that you have the right scanner for the sort of barcodes that you are going to be scanning. This is because you would not be able to use a linear barcode scanner to read a 2D barcode.
The barcode scanner
Now that we have talked you through the barcode side of things, let’s take a look at the actual barcode scanner. A barcode scanner will typically have three different parts, which include the decoder, sensor, and illumination system.
Generally speaking, the barcode scanner will scan the white and black elements of the barcode by using red light to illuminate the code, and this will then be converted into matching text.
More specifically, the barcode scanner’s sensor will detect the illumination system\s reflected light. Next, it will create an analog signal, sent to the decoder. Moreover, a decoder will interpret the signal. Finally, the barcode will be validated using the check digit, and then it is converted into text.
The converted text is going to be sent from the scanner to a computer software system, which holds a database of the quantity, cost, and maker of all of the items sold.
There are many different barcode scanners on the market today
Barcode scanners come in different sizes, functions, and capabilities. As a result, you will find that some are better suited to some industries than others. Factors such as work volume capacity and reading distance will all play a role.
We will give a brief overview of some of the different types of barcode scanners so that you can see what we mean. Firstly, we have laser scanners, which use a laser beam to scan the barcode. Another popular type is the pen-type reader, which consists of a photodiode and light source on the tip of the pen. Camera-based readers are also available. This uses image processing and camera techniques to read barcodes.
You also have CCD readers, which have a number of light sensors to scan the barcodes. One of the most advanced options on the market is the Omni-directional barcode scanner. A highly advanced and efficient scanner when it comes to decoding barcodes. I can read barcodes even when used on torn, crumpled, or badly printed barcodes.
Boosting the efficiency of your business with a quality barcode scanner
If you are looking to improve the efficiency of your business with effective barcode scanning practices, we have got you covered here at Conker. With one of our rugged Windows handheld scanners, your employees will be able to scan with confidence and ease, which is something we are looking for in the workplace, right?
One of the best products that we have when it comes to barcode scanning is the Conker NS6 – 6″ Rugged Windows Handheld device. This tablet comes with a full Windows OS and barcode scanner. Weighing just 380 grams and coming with a six-inch portrait display, it has everything that your workforce needs.
The scanner is a 2D barcode scanner, which means you will be able to read the barcodes that contain more information, such as quantity, price, web address, and so on. The specific barcode scanner with this model is the Honeywell N3680. It comes as an optional feature.
Some of the other features that you can expect from this handset include the following: GPS, 3G dual-band cellular, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi dual-band, 5,000 mAh battery that has six hours and 20 minutes of video playback at full brightness, 2-megapixel front camera, 5-megapixel rear camera, 64 GB solid-state storage, 4GB ram, Intel Quad-core CPU, six-inch Gorilla Glass touchscreen, IP65 ruggedized, and Windows 10 Enterprise.
Get to know the benefits of using barcode scanners for your business here.
Excellent Barcode Scanner Benefits
The benefits keep coming as well, as you get a number of different accessories with your purchase. This includes a micro-USB to USB-A adapter, hand strap, and a micro-USB charger. There are also optional accessories, including a charging dock.
This is not the only Android barcode scanner that we have available for you and your team to ensure the efficient operation of your business. You may also want to consider the Conker SX50 – Rugged Android PDA, which comes with a unique productivity-boosting angled barcode reader.
You and your workforce will find this product very easy to use. It weighs just 250 grams, which means it is very lightweight and easy to use.
Because of this, this scanner is popular across a number of different industries and businesses, including those in hospitality, distribution, wholesale, retail, and manufacturing.
There are a number of great features that you can expect with this product, including a fingerprint reader, GPS, 4G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 4,000 mAH battery with nine hours of video playback and four hours charge time, an 8-megapixel camera with flash, 64GB storage, 4GB RAM, 2.0GHz Octa-core Helio CPU, a five-inch toughened screen, IP67, and the Android 10 OS.
Start scanning more efficiently at your business
So there you have it: some of the different approaches that you can use when it comes to barcode scanning, as well as some of the different products that are available. We hope that this blog is helpful in helping you understand how barcode scanners is important for businesses. With the right products, barcode scanning can be a breeze - something that you do not even need to think twice about!
It is all about choosing devices with care, and if you opt for one of the products that we have mentioned in this post, you can be sure that you will not have anything to worry about.
Should you have any queries about any of the barcode scanners that we have for sale here at Conker or if you need advice on choosing the best device for you and your team, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us for more information. We will be more than happy to assist you in any way that we can. The number you need is 01279 295800.