Strengths 👍 and Weaknesses 👎
In addition to professional MDE solutions, smartphones are increasingly being used as barcode scanners today. For less demanding tasks, they can play to their strengths. However, as requirements increase, their advantages increasingly fade - until they have to pass the baton to professional MDE devices. In the end, it’s careful consideration what counts.
by Marc Teuber
book1511 words timelapse8 minutes reading time
Smartphones as Barcode Scanner 🔗︎
thumb_up Strengths
Cost-effective, familiar and portable 🔗︎
Smartphones used as barcode scanners in a commercial context: Initially, compared to professional solutions, there can be seen several advantages. Smartphones are significantly cheaper, except you need high-end devices. In addition, the basic functions of the operating system - usually Android or iOS - are already familiar to many people. Employees can thus get used to the operating system and new apps - such as for scanning goods in the warehouse - much more quickly. Smartphones also support technologies for mobile data transmission, which are now also common in the industrial sector, e.g. in warehouses and manufacturing. These include WLAN or LTE, for example. In addition, smartphones can be easily transported due to their compact form, e.g. in a trouser pocket, so they are always close at hand.
Testing and Work in Advance 🔗︎
Finally, smartphones are also well suited for various testings due to their low acquisition costs and widespread use. For example, if you want to test MDE solutions for warehouses and manufacturing, you do not need to invest in expensive professional devices right away. Smartphones are often an inexpensive alternative here. It may be possible to postpone the decision whether professional devices would make more sense to a later date.
thumb_down Weaknesses
Uncertainty, short Product Cycles, Incompatibility 🔗︎
However, smartphones also have some major disadvantages depending on the area of use. Many apps are offered on platforms such as Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store. This means there is an intermediate instance - with its own rules and risks. For many apps, it is not clear how long they will be supported and whether they will work with newer versions of the operating system. Support can be discontinued overnight or apps can disappear without notice. Smartphones also have much shorter product cycles because they come from the consumer sector. The models become obsolete more quickly and support is discontinued. In addition, barcode scanning apps can conflict with the many different applications running on the smartphone.
Cameras focusing on Private Customers 🔗︎
You should also check the cameras of the respective smartphone models - without overestimating the high pixel count. High-quality cameras quickly adapt to lighting conditions, recognize finer contrasts and focus on barcodes in a sufficient, sharp, secure and permanent way. There is one point to be considered in this context: Some camera software algorithms optimize images aesthetically. This can make scanning of small, damaged or poorly visible barcodes unnecessarily difficult. [How to find the right barcode type][1].
Hardware: Performance not dedicated, Batteries not replaceable, Operation limited 🔗︎
There are many apps running on smartphones that access the same processor and memory power, some of them in the background. This may leave less power for barcode scanning. Moreover, most smartphone batteries are not (easily) interchangeable. This is a major disadvantage in shift work, where barcode scanners need to work for longer periods of time.
In addition, there are often worn protective gloves at work, especially in warehouses and manufacturing - this makes touch screens more difficult to handle. It is also difficult to operate a smartphone with dirty or wet hands. Of course, there are also more robust models that perform better here. As a rule, however, you have to pay a lot more for them and accept a limited choice.
Ergonomy and rough Working Conditions 🔗︎
Anyone who scans hundreds of barcodes with a smartphone every day is likely to notice it more often: It takes time and effort to aim correctly, hands get tired, work slows down. Professional devices in the form of a pistol grip or a ring scanner are usually more productive here. Water, dust, falls on concrete floors and other rough working conditions: Smartphones quickly reach their limits. Special protective cases can provide a remedy - but only to a limited extent. However, they are unlikely to reach the high protection standards of dedicated MDE devices.
Bring Your Own Device 🔗︎
The BYOD approach - where employees use their own devices - is also being discussed for the use of smartphones as barcode scanners. The obvious advantage is that there is no need to buy any devices. While a BYOD approach can work in some cases, there could be more disadvantages than benefits. On the one hand, devices from different manufacturers, different operating systems and software versions can hardly be integrated satisfactorily. On the other hand, this makes it difficult to separate private and professional tasks. This results into conflicts with data protection laws. Also keep in mind: It will not be easy to prevent excessive private device use during working hours.
Professional MDE Devices 🔗︎
thumb_up Strengths
Handling 🔗︎
Special MDE devices make work easier and faster due to their shape. Being equipped with a pistol grip, barcodes can be scanned faster and with less fatigue. A ring scanner design - with the scanner being attached to the wrist or back of the hand - ensures two free hands available for other tasks.
Operating under Adverse Conditions 🔗︎
Daily work in the warehouse and in production can sometimes be quite rough. Devices can fall from heights of several metres onto hard floors in the middle of work processes. Dusty environments, such as sawdust in furniture manufacturing, can also be hard on scanners. In addition, work often takes place outdoors, in rain, sun and wind. Professional devices are comparatively well protected against these conditions with the help of different IP protection classes. Learn more about [selection criteria to be considered][2].
Higher Functionality and Security 🔗︎
Professional MDE devices are provided with specific additional functions and advanced features. In many cases, they can easily read small barcodes that are several metres away or damaged. Powerful hardware and software with special algorithms trimmed for barcode scanning make this possible. Another feature: A successful scan process is confirmed by beep or light signals.
Dedicated barcode scanners and their data can be comprehensively managed with the help of special mobile device management software: Manage access rights centrally, (re)assign devices to individual employees and determine who is allowed to use WLAN and transfer data encrypted via VPN, for example. In addition: Integrate devices of new employees and deregister them again as soon as employees leave the company; create and evaluate comprehensive logs in order to detect errors more quickly; install updates on all devices simultaneously and also release and restrict certain functions simultaneously.
thumb_down Weaknesses
Price, Repair Costs and innovative Additional Features 🔗︎
Its high price, including repairs, is probably the most important argument against professional MDE devices. Another disadvantage is that many professional barcode scanners are bulky and harder to transport compared to smartphones. In addition, new features that complement the core functionality may not be developed and implemented as quickly as a smartphone.
Summary 🔗︎
Smartphones as Barcode Scanners: Alternative when there are lower Requirements 🔗︎
According to the discussion, there are some reasons to use smartphones as barcode scanners in addition to professional devices. Using smartphones tasks with lower and standardized requirements can be handled particularly well. For example, applications where working with devices is limited to one work shift or less - because of the permanently installed batteries. In addition, acceptable results can be achieved with standardized barcodes that are not too small and not too far away. Also, there should not be a rough work environment. Furthermore, smartphone scanners are often well suited for development and test work - e.g. in the evaluation phase where different MDE systems are tested.
Professional Scanners: More robust, more durable and more productive 🔗︎
On the other hand, you should prefer special barcode scanners if there are bigger special requirements that have to be covered in addition to normal scanning processes. Professional MDE devices are usually much more robust and the protection is built directly into the device due to IP protection classes. They are suitable for wet, dusty and hard fall-favouring environments. Another strength of professional devices are barcodes that are difficult to access, further away or damaged. Even if many barcodes are to be scanned continuously, the ergonomically shaped pistol grips or wrist-mounted ring scanners increase productivity. Also important: The rechargeable batteries of professional MDE devices can usually be replaced. This allows for longer uninterrupted operation, e.g. in terms of multi-shift work. Modern MDE solutions are also often ahead regarding security. They can be comprehensively managed with professional mobile device management software: Profiles, restrictions, approvals.
Decision: Consider TCO and Corporate Development 🔗︎
In addition, the total cost of ownership (TCO) and the company’s development should be kept in mind before making a decision. An MDE solution is expected be used for years - initial investments will thus pay off. If there is stronger growth or a reorientation, for example regarding warehouse and production processes, the original decision criteria can quickly change - and a different solution becomes more attractive.
Whether Smartphone or professional MDE Device: DATACAP can do both 🔗︎
For DATACAP it does not matter whether you use a smartphone or a professional MDE device. After all, DATACAP only requires a simple internet browser, which has already been pre-installed on Android and iOS smartphones and on professional MDE devices.
Kiosk Mode on Mobile Device Scanners
Modern mobile device scanners provide you with a lot of useful functions. However, in some cases it makes sense to limit their functionality. This can increase employee productivity, prevent incorrect entries and minimize the risk of loss. Among others on Android devices this feature is called “kiosk mode”. Its advantages, functions and activation are explained in the following article.
3 Ways to increase Barcode Scanner Protection
Barcode scanners are an important part of data acquisition. After having made a sufficient investment, it is often assumed that they will have a long service life. There is great surprise and annoyance in case the devices give up prematurely. Common reasons for that are improper use and insufficient protection of the barcode scanners. That is why it is important to think about adequate protection in advance.