Ten Steps to Buying the Right Barcode Verifier

The time to decide has arrived. Your company has committed to purchase a barcode verifier and tasked you with the job. It is a considerable responsibility and you want to get it right. Likely there is a budget, but there are several ways to recommend wrongly. Overspending and underspending are the obvious mistakes. There are other mistakes that are more important.

Ten questions for Choosing the right barcode verifier:

What do you need it for—today and tomorrow? 1D only or 1D and 2D? A good quality 1D only verifier could cost about $3000. That’s a shoulder into the 1D/2D verifier that you could well need in the future. Two verifiers cost more than one multi-purpose device. Cheaper today could be much more expensive tomorrow.
How is your verifier going to be used? Must it be portable? Is this really a requirement? Consider this carefully—do not settle for portable just because it has always been done that way. There are tradeoffs. Portables have limited displays, making problem-solving difficult. Portables also make printing and archiving the test data an additional and sometimes awkward step.
Who is going to use it? Not all user interfaces are created equal. Some of them are designed for engineers, others simpler. Do you want everyone to have access to all the configuration settings?
What is the exact sequence of steps I take to verify a barcode? Do I have to move or sweep the verifier over the barcode? Is there a technique? Will all of our users get exactly the same results? Wands are very old technology—but they are still sold by some brands
Do you need to save the verification data? Is there already a system in place for doing that? How will you connect the verification reports to the job, customer, press, press operator, date, etc? Some verifiers allow you to enter job-specific data to the verification report.
What is the likelihood we will need tech support? User training? What resources are available from the manufacturer? Do they have a sales channel or do I always have to contact the manufacturer? How responsive are they? How do I find out? Ask the seller to let you talk to a user
Is the verifier I am considering ISO compliant? How can I be sure? This is a non-negotiable. Insist on a signed, dated Certificate of ISO Compliance—or go elsewhere if the language gets “creative.”
What is the factory warranty terms and duration? Is it renewable? What does that cost? Get it in writing.
How do I renew the ISO certification? Can I do it myself or must the device return to the factory? What does it cost? This is a cost of ownership. Get clear, straight information.
What is the cost of the verifier. If you make the right choice for 1-9, this is the amount you will have to invest—yes invest. The right verifier will pay for itself. The wrong one is just money spent. You and your reputation will have to live with it.