Barcode Software Buyers Guide

By Pamela S. Stevens

There are roughly four levels of barcode software available and every company has different barcode needs, so how do you know which software is right for your company? And what do you need to think about before contacting a barcode software provider?

Here the questions you should answer before you speak with a barcode software consultant.

What are your barcode needs?

Do you need linear, 2D, compliance, RSS or RFID? What specific bar code fonts do you need? Do you need compliance labeling or compliance templates?

How many labels do you need to print?

Do you need 10, 100, 1000 or perhaps a million labels printed per day?

How many printers do you need to print to?

Some software licenses consider the number of printers as well as the number of computers. Also, do you already have printers or know what kind of printers you want to work with. Some also sell print only versions, so one version is used to create the labels but labels can be exported and printed utilizing print only or printer server software.

How many locations do you need to print to?

Do you have one site or many? Do you need to be able to print from a remote location? How do you need to connect to your printers - serial, parallel, USB, TCP/IP ports or through a LAN/WAN network? Do you want to be able to send print commands from a portable device?

What kind of data sources do you need to import information from?

Do you need to import data from Excel, Access or from another source? Do you need dBase, Oracle, SQL Server or other database type support? Do you need multiple database support?

Outline your barcode label process from design to print.

A detailed outline or work flow details should be clearly outlined before you call a barcode consultant. You should begin with label design and then to every area that data may be pulled from, how the data will be arranged and what order the data will be gathered and finally end with printing.

 What are your international or global communication needs?

Do you have international locations? Do you need to communicate in numerous languages? Do you need international character sets? Do you need Unicode support? Do you require International technical or customer support options?

What, if any, kind of training do you need?

Do you have people onsite with the ability to implement a complete barcode solution? Do you need web or onsite training? Do you want someone to come to your facility to install the software and train users?

Have you experimented with several demo versions?

“Try before you buy” is necessary when it comes to barcode software. It is a good idea to download a demo version of the software you are considering and creating and printing a few labels. Make sure your printer and software combination can create quality barcodes that can be read easily and consistently by several scanner types.

What is your budget?

Once you define your barcode software budget, look for a program that fits your pricing schedule yet offers the features you need. Keep in mind that there may be some extra costs, like web training, support packages, multiple or site licenses and so on.

What kind of client/provider relationship do you want?

Since barcode software can be complex, especially at the Enterprise level, look for a company that can fulfill your customer service needs. Do you need your own account representative or company contact? Do you need priority care?  Do you need 24/7 support?

As with any major purchase, the more you know before you enter the sales floor the better off you will be. Have your needs clearly defined and seek a product and a B2B partnership that provides a relationship that you can feel comfortable with. And above all, remember that when it comes to high-end barcode software − customer service, technical support and product training can really make or break your purchasing and implementation experience.

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