Handheld barcode scanners have a variety of use cases. In fact, these devices are used in practically every industry, but for applications ranging from point-of-sale scanning to standard asset management in office environments and to monitor equipment maintenance and repair programs in industrial settings.
The following industries commonly rely on handheld scanners for asset management, inventory control, maintenance and repair, or other scanning requirements:
- Warehouse – The warehouse industry relies heavily on barcoding and barcode scanners to manage inventory, streamline processing, ordering, and much more.
- Defense – The defense industry has strict requirements and carefully monitors each and every asset it controls with sophisticated asset tracking systems, aided by barcode scanners.
- Oil and Gas – The oil and gas industry manages a wide array of assets both in-house and in the field, and must maintain accurate records for equipment maintenance and asset utilization. Industrial barcode scanners are often used in the field to streamline documentation and manage assets.
- Utility – The utility industry must track a wide range of different assets, both indoors and out, and manages a large quantity of data associated with each asset. Utility poles, meters, and even transformers and other equipment can be better managed with the right handheld barcode scanner.
- Telecom and Cable – Much like the oil and gas and utility industries, the telecom and cable industry has a vast collection of assets spanning its geographic coverage area. Tracking all of these assets and resources is a complex process that’s only achievable through efficient asset tracking systems. Because field technicians work outdoors, often in harsh weather conditions, requiring industrial barcode scanners to aid tracking.
- Manufacturing – Maintenance and repair is a primary need in the manufacturing industry, requiring the ongoing monitoring of equipment and documentation of regular maintenance activities. Handheld barcode scanners up to the task aid manufacturing companies in staying on top of maintenance activities, quickly identifying parts for repairs, contacting vendors, re-ordering, and other activities.
- Retail, Education, Government and Other Industries – It’s not just industrial and heavy-duty applications that benefit from handheld barcode scanners. The retail industry uses barcode scanners primarily for inventory control and POS (point-of-sale) applications, but many other industries rely on handheld barcode scanners for tracking expensive assets, managing resource utilization, and other asset tracking needs.