Barcode technology is one of the simplest yet most powerful tools for retail businesses.

In today’s retail supply chains, visibility is everything. From pallets leaving a factory to last-mile delivery vans, tracking assets has become critical to speed, cost control, and customer satisfaction. Barcodes, a technology over 50 years old, remain one of the simplest yet most powerful tools driving this transformation.

While they might not look like much, barcodes are one of the best ways for a business to keep track of all its assets as they move through the supply chain. Barcode tracking with a digital solution has become a key way for companies to manage their inventory, speed up logistics, and avoid losing products in the chaos of global shipping.

The History of the Barcode

The first retail barcode was scanned on a pack of Wrigley’s gum in 1974. Since then, barcodes have moved far beyond supermarket checkouts and now power inventory management, warehouse automation and even workplace safety.

The UPC-A is one of the most widely used barcode types in retail.

 

Developments in Barcode Tech

The first wave of barcode technology introduced automation and digital tracking. Items could be scanned and logged quickly, reducing manual entry and human error. That shift marked the beginning of faster, more reliable supply chain operations.

Today, barcodes have evolved alongside the industries that rely on them. Modern tracking solutions go far beyond basic scanners, offering capabilities such as:

• Cloud-based platforms that give supply chain leaders end-to-end visibility

• Mobile scanning apps that make barcode tracking accessible and affordable for teams of any size

• Real-time data analytics to monitor inventory, spot issues early, and drive better decisions These developments have turned barcodes into more than just labels. They’re now gateways to actionable data that improve accuracy, reduce costs, and streamline logistics across the entire supply chain.

 

Customer Satisfaction

Customers expect fast, reliable delivery and supply chains feel the pressure. Barcode tracking helps reduce lost or stolen parcels, lowers replacement costs, speeds up claims processing, and keeps fulfilment teams moving efficiently.

Without a reliable tracking system, businesses risk delays, errors and dissatisfied customers. Digital solutions simplify stock takes, provide real-time visibility, and reduce human error, so you never miss an order.

End-to-end barcode tracking can give your business a competitive edge.

 

Barcodes for Businesses

By analysing data from barcodes, businesses have greater visibility over which products are selling well and which are collecting dust in the warehouse. This raw data gives businesses the chance to adjust stock or alter deliveries to ensure an efficient process at all times.

Transit, an auto parts warehouse in eastern Canada with over 20,000 SKUs, introduced barcode tracking in their returns department. Within weeks, a process that once took 2 hours was reduced to just 10 minutes. A time saving that frees staff to focus on higher-value tasks.

Whether you’re managing multinational warehouses or a single retail store, barcode tracking delivers the same advantages: accuracy, visibility and speed. In a sector where margins are tight and customer expectations are high, those gains aren’t just helpful but are a competitive necessity

 

Content provided by Orca Scan, who will be exhibiting at the Retail Supply Chain and Logistic Show at Stand R1220.