Retail is one of the most intense industries out there. From small corner shops to massive supermarkets and retail stores, each member of staff is under a lot of pressure to perform their tasks well. Like with any industry, if a business owner is willing to invest in tech that helps their team(s), they’ll see unmatched efficiency.
One of the biggest advances for retail was the PDA. These small, handheld devices streamline a lot of daily retail tasks, including stock taking, price checking, and transferring data.
Today we’re going to explain the value of these machines, and why you’ll only get the best results if you have a label printer you can rely on.
Are PDAs Better than Barcode Scanners?
A PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) isn’t a machine with a single purpose. They can be noticeably different from application to application, depending on what the business needs them for.
In retail, logistics, and warehouse environments, the best PDAs are also barcode scanners, known unsurprisingly as PDA barcode scanners. On top of their other uses, such as stock checking and transferring data, their cameras can be used on any appropriate barcode to check the item or its status.
This makes it a no-brainer to invest in PDAs over traditional barcode scanners. They do the same thing only better, with a number of other beneficial features as an added bonus. If you just need a barcode scanner for now, it’s understandable to purchase them over a PDA, but the time will come when you’ll regret not having those additional features and will need to invest in them anyway.
An all-in-one device is easier to get the hang of too, which helps with new employee training. In a fast-paced environment like a shop or warehouse, onboarding needs to be as efficient as possible so that your new hire can hit the ground running and your managers are freed up again.
Printing Quality Barcode Labels
PDAs are fantastic machines for retail and logistics companies, as well as any environment that needs fast stock taking. However, if the barcodes you’re scanning aren’t up to scratch, the quality of your PDA won’t make up the difference.
Barcode labels need to be durable. This is especially important for shipping labels or attaching barcodes to products and packages so that they can be transported or sorted. Packages can be scraped, bumped, or may get wet during transit. If the barcode is easily ripped or loses adhesion quickly, it’ll cause frustrating delays day after day. For this job, you need tough labels with strong adhesion that will survive long journeys.
And for barcodes that stay in one place, durability is still essential. Barcodes are great for improving storage – attach a few barcodes to your shelves and you can check what goes where in a few seconds with a PDA. However, if these barcodes are fading after a few weeks, you’ll be wasting time replacing them, meaning they’re not improving efficiency the way they should.
A quality barcode should work for a few months, out of direct sunlight, before fading becomes an issue. If this isn’t the case for you, it might be time to upgrade your label printer.
Best Label Printer for Barcodes
The best type of label printer for barcodes is a thermal printer. These are better than their inkjet equivalents, as they print directly onto the adhesive material that is best for barcodes. Inkjets may get you similar quality, but you’ll have to work out a way to attach them, as many inkjets don’t have the capacity for adhesive paper.
Thermal printers are also compact, meaning they can be placed on/under a desk in a small office without getting in the way. An inkjet printer will take up more space, however if you need it for printing documents, they’re still worthwhile; most companies have one of each type of printer to cover all bases.
One downside of thermal printers is that the labels they produce will fade faster than those printed with ink. This can cause a few headaches, but they’re higher quality to begin with, and they’ll do the job for a month or two at the very least, longer if you have a good label printer.
No matter what machine you use, it’s just as important to look after it. Don’t worry, that’s where we come in.
Barcode Printer Maintenance
When you rely on your barcodes every day, you can’t afford for your barcode printer to let you down. With our regular servicing and maintenance packages, we’ll keep it up and running so you can focus on your business.
Even small label printers are complicated machines. You might have some time spare to take it apart and look for any issues, but without proper training those issues won’t be in plain sight. Few business owners can spot when their print head is worn out before it starts to affect performance.
By leaving it to the professionals, you have more free time, and we’ll guarantee a fast and efficient service. If any label printer parts are on their last legs, we’ll get new ones ordered and fitted in no time so there is no delay to your workflow.