Every Business Owner Needs To Know The Following About Barcode Printers

Apart from knowing that a barcode is an essential part of a Point of Sale (POS) system, there is still a lot out there you need to learn. For example, a barcode label printer is a major component to a POS if you wish to create your own barcodes. The following is important information that you need to know just in case you are out shopping for one.

Barcode Printer Types and Basics

barcode printerAccording to The Barcode News, not all printers will offer you the type of quality you want, even though they all make theoretical claims to be the best in the market. The most important considerations that you should make regarding your choice of barcode label printer should include the cost of ownership, the quality of the printing, and how easy the printer is to use. It is important to understand that inconsistent bar widths or compromised contrast between the dark and light elements will result in a faulty barcode label, one that is unreadable.

The most popular thermal printers out there are the direct thermal printers and the thermal transfer printers. With the direct thermal barcode printers, the printer produces the heat that creates the barcode images on the labels. The thermal labels used in the direct thermal printer have a special treatment, which produces an image with the application of heat. On the other hand, the thermal transfer printers transfer images from a ribbon onto the label, which results in the best quality permanent labels in the market.

Software and Compatibility

Barcode printers operate using special software designed for the creation of labels, using programs based on leading computer operating systems such as Windows. When looking for suitable software for your printer, first make sure that it is compatible with the printer and that it contains features that make your work easy. For example, make sure that the software has enough templates that you can use to design your barcodes. In addition, make sure that the software can access your database, and make sure to get a demonstration disk, to help you determine the usefulness of the software beforehand.

Matching Your Business’s Needs

Depending on the number of barcodes you require on a daily basis, it is prudent to choose a printer that can keep up with those numbers. For example, if you do not need more than 500 barcode labels in a day, then a desktop printer is best for you. For businesses or industries that require less than 1,500 or less than 3,000 barcode labels per day, then the light industrial and heavy industrial barcode label printers will do a great job respectively. For large-scale industries that require 5,000 labels or less per day, the best printer is the heaviest industrial label printer in the market, since those numbers are too high for smaller printers.

Addons and Extras

According to Uline, you can get a different resolution for your barcode printer is you wish, though the standard industry resolution is considered good enough by most. In addition, depending on your printer, you can get different barcode widths, ribbon sizes, and other additional options to help customize your barcode to what serves your business best. You can even get the Shopify barcode printer owing to its numerous advantages. The most common additions that you can get include:

  1. A cutter

The cutter simply separates the barcode labels as you print them. In most cases, the paper used to print on has perforations at the bottom of every barcode label, making it easy to detach every piece from the roll. However, the more labels you require the more essential the cutter will become.

  1. A rewinder

When you print out rolls of barcodes, more often than not, you end up with a pile of labels next to the printer, a sore sight if you were printing many pieces. However, a rewinder saves the situation by rolling up the printed-paper so that at the end of the process, you get a neat and manageable printed roll.

  1. A dispenser

For small businesses that want to apply a barcode label on a product immediately after printing it, the dispenser or peeler is ideal. This dispenser saves the time and energy that an individual would require tearing off the label, peel it, and then apply it on a product. Although the dispenser is not ideal for batch printing, individual printing is far much easier and less tedious.

  1. The in-line print verifier

A verifier is a scanner on the front part of the printer that analyzes the quality of each print. The scanner is a great addition for a business that prints hundreds or thousands of barcode labels in a day. It would be a waste of time and resources to discover later that you cannot use half of the prints, owing to poor quality. According to Barcodes Inc., the in-line print verifier stops the printing process immediately if it detects a reduction in the printing quality, which saves you from losses.

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About Dequiana Jackson

Dequiana Jackson, Founder of Inspired Marketing, Inc., helps overachieving women entrepreneurs conquer limiting beliefs and create marketing plans that grow their businesses. This includes one-on-one marketing plan development, digital product creation, web design and content marketing. Dequiana is the author of Know Your Business: How to Attract Ideal Clients & Sell More and runs the award-winning blog, Entrepreneur-Resources.net.

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One comment

  1. I like your tip to consider the cost, quality, and ease of any potential barcode printer. Barcodes make sales a lot faster and more convenient, but only if they are clear and readable. If barcode readers can’t correctly read the labels, then you just wasted a lot of money on something that doesn’t work. Quality barcode printers are essential to prevent that and are probably worth the extra cost. Thanks for the article.

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