Scandit SDK 8.0: Stop Scanning. Start Understanding and Acting.

In short:

The Scandit SDK 8.0 marks the evolution of data capture from a high-performing scanning tool into an intelligent AI-powered workflow enabler.
New product MatrixScan Pick uses AR overlays to streamline receiving and restocking processes.
New features in Smart Label Capture automate expiry date checks, potentially saving millions annually.
AI-powered barcode scanning in SparkScan now adapts scanning modes based on environmental context and user behavior.

Scan. Done.

Not any more.

In real-world contexts, a scan is never just a scan. Even the simplest barcode or ID scanning is woven into a network of data and action.

Data capture is the glue that holds inventory management together. It’s the key that locks in compliance with identity verification regulations. And it’s the engine that drives order fulfillment, last-mile delivery, and store operations.

Traditional data capture tools rely on frontline workers to bring all the intelligence to these processes. With the Scandit SDK 8.0, intelligence is also embedded at the point of capture. It’s scanning that adapts to context, automates data capture, and accelerates workflows.

Shock. Horror. You don’t actually want a barcode scanner.

Harvard Business School Professor Theodore Levitt famously said, “People don’t want to buy a quarter-inch drill. They want a quarter-inch hole!”

It’s the same with data capture. We built a unicorn founded on barcode scanning, but I know that deep down, no one actually wants to buy a barcode or ID scanner.

What they want is effective inventory management, fast and compliant passenger onboarding, or efficient order fulfilment. Scanning is a means to an end, not an end in itself.

And these are million- or even billion-dollar problems for businesses. Frontline operations have to capture more data points than ever, navigate increasingly complex workflows, and deal with ever-tighter resource constraints.

Unreasonable expectations or burnout are the most common cause of dissatisfaction among frontline workers in the UK. Another recent US study estimated the total cost of poor information access at the frontline to be over $80 billion a year.

Data capture is the common thread tying together these challenging frontline operations. Barcode and ID scanning is the linchpin of processes such as receiving, restocking, price checking, in-store order fulfilment, driver operations, and online check-in.

A man in a blue vest shops in a grocery store, looking at a boxed product while holding his phone. Shelves are filled with various packaged foods.

But high-performance scanning on its own isn’t enough to meet these business challenges. Imagine you’re an instant coffee drinker looking for a better coffee drinking experience. Improving the quality of the granules you put into your cup is only going to take you so far. To really change things, you’re going to need to buy a French press or coffee machine.

The Scandit SDK 8.0 marks the evolution of data capture from a high-performing scanning tool into an intelligent AI-powered workflow enabler. It’s like the difference between getting better instant coffee granules and getting an Italian espresso machine.

Here’s just three examples of the SDK 8.0 at work:

Fast, consistent restocking and receiving with AR overlays

Sure, you’ve got a process for restocking and receiving. But how do you know it’s actually being followed in the shadowy depths of your store backrooms, warehouses, or fulfilment centers? Or that new employees are even being correctly trained?

MatrixScan Pick uses augmented reality (AR) to structure, track, and accelerate receiving and restocking processes. Users scan the barcodes on multiple items simultaneously and instantly view associated tasks on an AR overlay. A simple tap on the overlay confirms actions and updates status.

One leading luxury retailer already using MatrixScan Pick is saving an estimated $1 million annually by streamlining receiving.

Cut food waste by automating expiry date checks

Food waste can cost a large grocer billions of dollars a year. As much as 40% of all food in America ends up wasted.

Markdowns of perishable goods nearing their sell-by date are good for everyone. Retailers save costs, environmental impact is reduced, and consumers get cheaper food.

Unfortunately, most retailers still check sell-by dates by sight. It’s not only slow, but markdown opportunities are often missed or accidental discounts given.

Smart Label Capture can now automate expiry date checks. When a frontline worker scans a label, Smart Label Capture quickly identifies the item through barcode scanning, while simultaneously locating and capturing the expiry date.

Frontline workers get instant, visual guidance on which items need marking down. We estimate that Smart Label Capture could boost a large retailer’s annual revenue by up to $10 million.

Automated expiry date checks are also used by in-store order pickers when picking perishable items. With no need for pickers to visually check the date, the workflow accelerates and fewer customers receive items that do not meet minimum shelf life guarantees.

Reduce inventory disruption with AI-powered barcode scanning

We know from years of experience with global enterprises that real-world inventory management or store operations are cluttered, fast-moving environments. Damaged or misprinted barcodes may be unreadable. Time is always tight.

Re-scans and mis-scans disrupt and delay these processes. A 5% failure rate might not seem like a lot — but that means that 1 in every 20 scans fails. Any individual worker might have hundreds or thousands of codes to scan a day. A business could have millions.

A woman takes a photo of stacked boxes on shelves in a warehouse, while two workers handle more boxes nearby.

This leads to higher labor costs through inefficiencies, increased staff turnover from poor employee experience, and downstream error handling expenses.

In SparkScan, advanced AI algorithms now analyze not individual barcodes but multiple signals — environmental factors, user behavior — to create a comprehensive understanding of what’s being scanned, why it’s being scanned, and what data actually matters. This information is then acted on in real-time to adapt scanning mode and user interface to context.

What does this mean in practical terms? The SDK 8.0:

Automatically adapts the user interface in cluttered environments to make scanning the right barcode among many easy.
Intelligently filters intentional from accidental duplicate scans.
Triggers text recognition as a back up to decode information when the barcode is unreadable.

Data capture that understands and acts

There’s many more updates in the Scandit SDK 8.0, including VIN scanning and price label capture in Smart Label Capture, and major upgrades to MatrixScan Count and ID Bolt.

If you’re an existing Scandit customer, you can find out how to upgrade in our documentation (or reach out to your Customer Success Manager). If you haven’t tried Scandit Smart Data Capture yet, it’s easy to test for free — just sign up for a 30-day free SDK trial.

Stop scanning. Start understanding and acting.

Scandit SDK 8.0 at a glance

SDK 8.0 Product/Feature	Workflows	Benefits
New product: MatrixScan Pick
Assign tasks and track completion Scan multiple barcodes at once and see task-specific interactive AR overlays	Restocking/Replenishment: Receiving with exception handling Proof of delivery Order pickup Receiving and sorting	Eliminate errors Reduce guesswork Restock 3× faster Stage and audit inventory up to 6× quicker
New in Smart Label Capture:
Expiry date management Simultaneously capture barcode and expiry date data from product packaging	In-store picking Markdown and clearance Product recalls	Reduce food waste Improve customer satisfaction Improve traceability Up to 4x faster in-store picking
Price checks Simultaneously extract barcode and price data from a label	Price and promotion execution	Ensure price accuracy in-store 6x faster capture of price information
VIN scanning Capture any VIN (vehicle identification number) format with a single press. Barcode only, barcode+text, text only.	Quality control Vehicle sales Car rental	Eliminate data entry errors that lead to downstream costs 7x faster capture of VIN codes
New in MatrixScan Count
Tote mapping Batch scan all totes on an in-store order fulfilment cart at once and instantly visualize cart layout	In-store order fulfilment	2x faster tote placement drives a 36% increase in overall pick rate
Barcode clustering Automatically identify and group multiple barcodes that belong to the same item	Stock counting Track and trace Receiving	20x faster inventory counting compared to scanning codes one-by-one
*New in SparkScan and Barcode Capture:**
AI-powered barcode scanning features Consistently identify and scan the intended barcode with smart duplicate filtering, fallback OCR, and automatic barcode selection * Available in Barcode Capture from v.8.2	Wide applicability across single scanning in retail, travel, transport, logistics and field services	Improve efficiency Eliminate errors Enhance employee experience
New in ID Scanning
ID Bolt 2.0 White-label capabilities with extensive UI/UX customization and AI-assisted brand theming	Online check-in	Custom brand in 5 minutes Seamless passenger experience to reinforce user confidence
Unstructured travel documents scanning Visa stickers, e-visa confirmations and invitation letters	Online check-in	Increase number of passengers “ready to fly” before they reach the airport
Mobile driver’s license scanning Scan digital IDs presented on a device and detect fakes	Age verification Airport check-in	Unified UX for physical and digital IDs Stronger, verified credentials