Barcodes and AI are becoming quite the dynamic duo. Here’s a few ways they intersect:

Automated Scanning

AI-powered systems can use advanced image recognition to read barcodes even if they’re damaged or partially obscured, making scanning more efficient and reliable. AI is the technology behind late-generation super-aggressive scanners
AI and barcodes are teaming up to make things smoother, smarter, and more efficient across various industries.

What could possibly go wrong? Immediately a one-word answer pops up: hallucinations. AI does it all the time.

A Barcodes and AI Scenario

AI helps a scanner decode a heavily overprinted, or damaged, or severely Decodability-distorted barcode. How does AI do this? Are controls built in that confirm—or limit—the AI-influenced result? My best guess: of course there are limits but no scanner manufacturer will share that information. Rather than repeat myself, I refer to an earlier article available here.

Inventory Management

AI algorithms can analyze barcode data to optimize inventory levels, predict demand, and automate reordering processes.
Inventory levels, demand predictions and reordering all depend on accurate barcode data capture by the scanner. The aforementioned concerns apply.

Fraud Detection

AI can track and analyze barcode data to detect patterns of fraudulent activity, such as counterfeit products or theft.
Here the ramifications of scanning errors infiltrate the supply chain. Barcodes are the heart and soul of anti-theft and anti-fraud initiatives. It is a three-dimensional snapshot:
(a) the correct product
(b) at the correct location
(c) at the right time.
The barcode a fraudster puts on a substitute package will probably scan slightly differently than the barcode on the authentic product. It could be better, it could be worse. How will AI support fraud detection under these circumstances.

Personalized Marketing

By analyzing purchasing data from barcodes, AI can help businesses create personalized marketing campaigns tailored to individual customer preferences.
Sounds great. If the barcode was correctly decoded. Admittedly, barcodes work properly a significant majority of the time. How much damage could an incorrectly “enhanced” barcode do? The damage could be almost incalculable.

This raises an important question. Wouldn’t it be better for a bad barcode to simply not scan? It’s really not a question–of course it is better for a bad barcode to not scan. But AI is making it possible for otherwise unreadable barcodes to scan, and that is a good thing. There will be misreads. This pre-dates AI and has always been a risk with badly printed barcodes.  Barcodes and AI are indeed becoming a dynamic duo. Barcode verification continues to be as important as ever. AI does not change that.

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3db Barcode Testimonial

Our company (an advanced software company) recently worked with Barcode Test to source a barcode verifier.  Not long ago, we were awarded a contract requiring products to be marked with IUIDs in accordance with MIL-STD-130.  For that standard, marking labels must pass a verification test that evaluates many variables (contrast, size, clarity, syntax, modularity, and more).  After a thorough search, we reduced our options to a select few.

In our search for a verifier, the Axicon line caught our attention.  Barcode Test is our regional reseller for this product.   From the beginning, they were very prompt with their responses.  We ended up having a quick call with John Nachtrieb to go over our needs.  John was extremely easy to work with and provided a lot of great information.  He was very knowledgeable on the matter and was quick to offer up a demo unit (free of charge).

Upon receiving the demo verifier and testing it, a few questions arose.  John joined a call with us and answered all our questions.  Ultimately, the Axicon verifier wasn’t the best fit for us, so we shipped the demo back.  John was completely understanding.  A few weeks later, Barcode Test reached back out with another possible verifier for us to try.  While they didn’t sell that brand, they just wanted to help us find the best option that met our needs. They even offered to send us the unit that they have in-house to see if it worked to our liking. 

Barcode Test is truly a great company to work with.  Their service and willingness to help the customer are far beyond what you typically get from other companies.  They are experts in barcode quality assurance and seem willing to help in any way they can (even if that means not getting a sale and recommending another option that better fits the customer’s needs).  If anyone is in the market for barcode verification/scanning services or products, I would highly recommend giving Barcode Test a call.

Regards,

Production Manager