Scanning items into inventory for the first time or during cycle counts can be a daunting task. We’ve assembled a few tips to help:
- Try and move all of your items into the same space (or as few spaces as possible)
- Stack all of your like items together
- Organize all barcodes facing out with boxes or packages oriented the same direction
- Use colored stickers to help identify items that don’t scan, or otherwise have an issue. Tag them and keep moving. Come back to deal with them later.
- Create a scanning shield using a thick piece of paper. When scanning barcodes, particularly smaller barcodes that are near other barcodes on your shelves, your scanner can easily scan an adjacent item. Create a shield by cutting a barcode-shaped hole in a thick piece of paper and use that to place over each barcode to ensure you are scanning the correct item.
- Work in a very organized fashion to avoid repeat scans on items. Finish a shelf, cabinet or rack without stopping to avoid losing your place and having to manually review items.
- If your inventory was disorganized when you started, use this opportunity to stack or reorganize your materials after scanning them.