Choosing the Best Mobile Scanning Accessory for the Enterprise: Case, Sled or Peripheral

| Products & Solutions , Retail

barcode scanner

Barcode scanning is one of the easiest ways to collect product data. But choosing a scanning device is not always so simple.

Initially, enterprises must decide whether to use a dedicated hardware scanner, peripheral device, or mobile devices equipped with a data capture solution. All of these options have their pros and cons.

Dedicated scanners are rugged, ergonomic, and offer a high degree of scanning performance. However, dedicated scanners are expensive to purchase, maintain and upgrade. They can also be bulky and are limited to a single function – scanning barcodes. Employees may still need to utilize some other type of mobile device for tasks such as communication and navigation. Across a wide-scale deployment, these costs and limitations can really add up.

Peripheral scanners that attach via USB cord or Bluetooth connection to mobile devices offer the ergonomic, durability and performance advantages of dedicated scanners. These peripheral scanners extend the investment in mobile devices, but they are also expensive (up to $150-$200 for a 1D scanner), cumbersome and are frequently lost or stolen, leading to high replacement rates. They also introduce another electronic device with multiple points of failure into the corporate IT environment, increasing rates of equipment service as well as failure. Finally, peripherals require workers to carry two mobile devices – the scanner plus the mobile device it attaches to – which is impractical.

In contrast, Scandit software can directly turn mobile devices such as smartphones into barcode scanners. Smartphones also cost much less per unit to purchase and maintain than dedicated scanners. Leveraging Scandit’s cloud-based software, users can quickly and affordably upgrade and customize scanning capabilities as needed. Smartphones also have numerous other uses besides scanning, increasing potential ROI without the need for additional peripherals.

Certain scanning environments may pose challenges to smartphones. Enterprises have traditionally relied upon dedicated scanners in these scenarios. Higher cost and lower usability are traded for guaranteed performance. But more recently, options have emerged that make smartphones a viable scanning tool in any environment. For example, scanning sleds and ruggedized cases can both enable smartphone scanning performance in challenging scenarios. Sleds provide a protective smartphone sleeve. Via an imager or laser component, sleds enable smartphones to perform barcode scanning. They also may offer an additional battery and/or a magnetic card reader.

Enterprise sleds allow smartphone scanning in high-volume or basic rugged situations However, they are costly and awkward to handle. Sleds also require additional built-in electrical components to function. This increases the need for maintenance and creates new possibilities for equipment failure.

Rugged cases simply increase the protection of a smartphone scanner against the elements. Offered by vendors such as LifeProof and Otterbox, rugged cases guard smartphones against dust, dirt and moisture. They also provide durability in the case of falls and drops, and some rugged cases even offer battery extension.

However, rugged cases provide no ergonomic support and lack any built-in scanning functionality, which can be critical to certain use cases. That’s where the Scandit Case comes in. The Scandit Case is a barcode scanning case that provides a highly effective and affordable solution that significantly expands the applications of smartphone scanning. The scan case works in conjunction with an app using the Scandit Barcode Scanner SDK or a customizable Scandit Flow mobile solution to improve ergonomics and worker efficiency.

Leveraging a smartphone’s existing camera and flash, the Scandit Case eliminates the need for any additional electrical components, battery, built-in imager or laser scanner. It also benefits from the full functionality of Scandit’s scanning software, including frequent updates to support new symbologies or continuously improve performance.

As a result, the Scandit Case is significantly less expensive than other mobile barcode scanning solutions. Maximum cost is $200 per device, 40 to 60% less than a dedicated scanner while offering equivalent speed, quality and performance. In addition to upfront cost savings, the Scandit Case also delivers a lower total cost of ownership (TCO). Software updates are delivered instantly via cloud connection. Since most employees are familiar with smartphones, the need for training is largely eliminated and operational errors are reduced. Smartphones also simultaneously deliver other functionality, such as communication.

Furthermore, the small and lightweight form factor works as well or better than a much bulkier enterprise sled or peripheral. Smartphones are less likely to fail than other mobile barcode scanning solutions due to the simplicity of the device. This also reduces the amount of downtime associated with smartphone scanners.

Added ergonomics, such as forward scanning capability, a scan button, and an aimer and illuminator generated by the smartphone’s built-in camera flash, create an ease of use a rugged case cannot match.

The Scandit Case provides a highly competitive mobile barcode scanning solution across many industries and situations. In logistics, the Case allows workers to use smartphones to scan vast quantities of inventory in warehouse environments. Couriers can easily confirm delivery, record customer signature, and utilize a smartphone’s built-in GPS and communication capabilities.

In retail, Scandit Case, combined with Scandit’s software-based scanning capabilities, allows high-volume scanning of barcodes. This supports activities such as stock-taking, markdowns and shipping/receiving. Retailers can track products every step, from source to shelf to purchase. Associates can record the location and availability of items for store-level fulfillment of online orders. The Scandit Case can also help associates and customers scan barcodes to obtain detailed product information.

No one mobile scanning accessory is the right choice for every enterprise. But smartphones are an affordable, usable and multipurpose barcode scanning solution. With the Scandit Case, smartphones can now be deployed in almost any scanning environment.