Top Tips for Choosing a Barcode Manufacturer

Barcodes are the unsung heroes of commerce, enabling reliable shipping, tracking, and sales. Yet many companies outsource their barcode production to the lowest bidder, ignoring the importance of other factors like accuracy, expertise, and customer service. Since barcodes form the backbone of many companies’ inventory, sales, and shipping processes, choosing the right barcode manufacturer is critical. When it’s time to find a barcode partner, asking the right questions can help identify the true experts.

1. What types of barcodes do you offer? It’s usually best to choose a company that can provide a full range of barcode products, from printed retail barcodes to specialty labels and RFID tags. The variety means that the company will still be able to meet your barcoding needs should they change in the future.
2. What kind of barcodes do you recommend for our industry or needs? This question offers outstanding insight into the company’s expertise and their ability to answer questions in terms that a layperson can understand. The ideal manufacturer can explain any industry-specific regulations and standards.
3. How can we expand our use of barcodes to improve productivity? Real experts will be able to go beyond standard recommendations and evaluate opportunities to streamline business functions with their products. Additionally, a representative who can answer this question demonstrates a willingness to work together for the benefit of your business.
4. What equipment will we need? Do you provide that equipment? A truly knowledgeable barcode manufacturer will be able to explain the whole process and present a complete picture of the required investment. Furthermore, contracting a barcode manufacturer that also offers barcode printers and barcode scanners simplifies the entire process.
5. How does your quality verification process work? With barcodes, accuracy is critical. Therefore a robust barcode quality verification program is indispensable. The best barcode manufacturers not only check their work, but stand behind it with a guarantee. Choosing a company without a rigorous barcode quality assessment program, simply to save money, often results in money spent on fines or revenue lost from dissatisfied retailers.
6. What kind of training can you provide? The best barcode manufacturers don’t simply print the barcodes and stick them in the mail. They work as partners to ensure that the implementation of your barcode system goes smoothly. Often a local manufacturer is the best choice if on-site training is necessary.
7. How long have you been in the barcode business? As with any industry, a long track record indicates continued success, along with the ability to adapt with barcode technology. Companies that provide the best customer service and expertise will generally provide referrals or testimonials quite willingly.
8. What other services does your company provide? Since barcodes appear not only on shipping labels, but also on forms and other printed documents, finding a company that offers multiple services can save both time and money. A full-service barcode manufacturer will also provide printing and promotional services, for single-source supply management.
9. Do you offer any incentives for loyal customers? Barcode companies that offer comprehensive services sometimes offer special discounts for bulk ordering. These volume rebates often make it even more practical to go with one company for all printing and labeling needs, rather than separate companies for each.

Just as businesses invest considerably in finding a qualified attorney and carefully screening employment applicants, they should invest in building a robust barcode system. The key is to ask the right questions, and choose the best barcode manufacturer.