"Ever since barcodes were first introduced, companies of all sizes have utilized them to make their businesses run faster and more efficiently. Not surprisingly, a 2006 European Labelling Study, reported that 96% of European companies relied on barcodes to increase efficiency, 32% for increasing the accuracy of ordering and invoicing, and 26% for enabling cost reduction efforts." Read the full story.
Andrea says: Barcodes keep on coming. Many times it has been predicted that with the onset of RFID then it is goodbye to barcodes. It's generally recognised now that RFID will not replace barcodes and that barcodes will continue to have a place in the world. Barcodes these days have much higher data capacity, and barcodes can even be e-mailed to our mobile phones and scanned from the screen. I read recently that there is now a 2D barcode with high enough capacity to store video and multimedia content - with such innovations barcodes will be around for a long time yet.
"A panel of experts share what you need to know to be successful in two of the hottest verticals for selling mobility solutions - field service and healthcare." Read the full story.
Andrea says: There is a host of clinical and non-clinical applications within healthcare but maybe one of the most important concerns is associated with a patient receiving the wrong medication. All clinical processes have the potential to be undermined by human error and barcoding has been deployed as a preventative method of control. A handwritten prescription is typically taken to a pharmacy or placed in an individual patient box, and in most cases the pharmacist or the nurse delivers the correct medication. However, there have been known errors. If barcoding technology is used then the scanning of a barcode on a patient wristband, on the medication and on the patient record will potentially eliminate the scope for error, and at the very least reduce the error rate.
"ShopSavvy is one of a breed of mobile barcode applications that doesn't use 2d barcodes. It simply adds layers of functionality to already existing UPC barcodes, like you find on every item in the grocery store. By its own description, ShopSavvy is more of a comparison service than a shopping one, but it's primary purpose is to help people when they are shopping." Read the full story.
Andrea says: Back in July we talked about ShopSavvy and commented that the future of mobile computing really is exploding before our very eyes. Five years ago you would never have thought that if you were in a shop, saw something you liked and decided you wanted more information - that you could actually have a bar code scanner that enables you to read reviews on your mobile phone, as well as search for better prices at different locations. Shopping will never be the same again.
Posted by andrea 30th September 2009 at 12:29pm
