Barcode Scanner App: Why It Can Be Better Than a Hardware Scanner

The Barcode Scanner App from DataSymbol transforms any device with a camera — be it a PC, notebook or any internet-enabled product with an embedded webcam — into an accurate barcode and QR code scanner.

Exciting Features of Barcode Scanner App

• Multiple symbologies supported – 1D (Code 39, Code 128, EAN/UPC) and 2D codes (QR, Data Matrix, PDF417, Aztec, etc.). Text to speech is multi-language.

• Keyboard wedge mode – decoded data sent as if typed from the keyboard to any application.

 • Automation possibilities – COM API, events, option to run external application or script after a code has been read.

• Configurable prefixes / suffixes – add an Enter, Tab or custom character after your barcode scans.

• Selectable barcode area – capture only specific region of the video frame, making decoding more accurate.

• Camera control – focus, zoom, exposure and more can be manually or automatically adjusted.

• Support for cross-platform applications including Windows, Linux, Android and UWP.

Thus, the app is a universal scanner that can be used in various workflows and does not require any dedicated scanners.

Why Barcode Scanner App is Better than Traditional Scanners

AdvantageDetails
Lower cost of implementationNo need to purchase expensive barcode scanners — you can use existing devices with cameras
Flexibility & scalabilityEasy to deploy on many computers or mobile devices; updates and settings can be managed centrally
Integration & automationAPI and event model make it easy to integrate into existing business workflows and trigger external actions
Simplified infrastructureFewer hardware devices mean fewer failure points and lower maintenance costs
Wide symbology supportSoftware can be updated to support new barcode types, while hardware scanners may be limited by firmware
Customizable behaviorAdjustable scan zones, prefixes/suffixes, filtering — often impossible on fixed hardware scanners
MobilitySmartphones/tablets can be used as multipurpose devices (scanning + other business tasks)
Easy updatesBugs can be fixed and new features added via software updates, without replacing hardware
Multi-platform compatibilityWorks on Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, etc. — useful in mixed environments
Lower replacement costIf a camera breaks, it’s much cheaper to replace than a dedicated hardware scanner

Things to Keep in Mind

“Software-based barcode scanning is great, but there are situations where hardware scanners offer some advantages, they include:

• Quality of the camera counts – Crappy cameras will provide unreliable scans.

• Speed & performance – Our whole device scanning solutions rest on our hardware scanner designs that are all geared towards super-fast reading of even damaged or low contrast bars, ramping up the speed and performance by orders of magnitude compared with competitions!

• Durable – handheld scanners are rugged enough to stand up to drops, dust, moisture, and more tough environments.

• Battery Life – Smartphones and tablets tend to be quickly drained when they are used to operate a camera all day long.

• Significant challenges – glare, very small codes or moving objects may be handled more easily by a laser/imager scanner.

• Software dependencies: Updates to OS or drivers can adjust the stability of an app.

• Custom interfaces – some POS systems demand USB/RS-232 scanners featuring a trigger button due to workflow necessity.


Barcode Scanner App – Agile, Simple, and Scalable for all your barcode scanning needs! It does away entirely with the need for special scanning hardware, works across a number of different symbologies, and plays nicely with your business apps.

For applications where speed, ruggedness, and reliability in rough environments are mission-critical (like high-throughput warehouses, industrial settings), the proprietary hardware scanners may still remain supreme. But in most business and office environments, there’s no reason to add a hardware-based scanner when software can do the job at a lower cost and with less potential obsolescence.



Ready to get started?

Integrate the DataSymbol Scanner App into your Software Environment in under an hour. Check out our tutorials, documentation, source code, or download the demo app to get started right away.

Barcode Scanner App