Barcode technology was the backbone of SCM (Supply Chain Management) in the 1980s. For years, the company owners considered it as the only effective solution for asset tracking but they were wrong. With the advancements in asset tracking technology as well as the wireless communication technologies, barcodes started losing their grip. There were many disadvantages associated with barcodes, and technologies such as RFID (Radio-frequency Identification) managed to strike while the iron was hot.
The loopholes in barcode technology were successfully overcome by RFID. However, barcodes are still in use because they are comparatively cheaper than RFID, when it comes to the initial set up cost. The following are the 5 reasons why one should stop using barcodes for asset tracking:
Time-Consuming
Most of the barcode tags have a 12 digit serial number for identification. They require a barcode scanner to scan the tag. It is a very tedious job to tag each of the assets with these barcode tags and then scanning each of these tags for asset identification. This process takes up a lot of time as well.
Ineffectual Inventory Management
When it comes to managing the inventory using the barcode technology, the job becomes a lot more tedious, and time-consuming compared to personal asset tracking.
Fragile Labels
If a barcode label or tag gets damaged then it becomes impossible for the scanner to read it. Barcode tags are usually printed on paper due to which they have a low-durability.
Costly Procedure
Even though the initial set up cost of barcode is cheaper compared to RFID, it is still a costly procedure. When this technology is used in the management of a huge inventory for many years, a lot of money is spent on human labor and the installation complicated printers.
Frequent Breakdowns
Similar to a computer system, a barcode scanner can also break down. Barcode scanner breakdown causes delay in tracking procedure. Therefore, expensive, high-quality scanners have to be used.