{"id":2006,"date":"2023-09-13T19:41:14","date_gmt":"2023-09-14T02:41:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/?p=2006"},"modified":"2025-09-25T21:40:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T04:40:18","slug":"barcodes-vs-qr-codes-for-inventory-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/barcodes-vs-qr-codes-for-inventory-management\/","title":{"rendered":"Barcodes vs. QR Codes for Inventory Management"},"content":{"rendered":"

Deciding between inventory scanning methods isn\u2019t always black and white.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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\"DecidingImage source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

In the digital age, optimizing the efficiency of your <\/b>inventory management software system<\/b><\/a> is essential. Choosing the right bar coding technology for your business is one of the best ways to maintain an edge over the competition.<\/b><\/p>\n

It would be hard to imagine tasks like retail shopping and inventory management without bar coding. The basic zebra stripes first developed to streamline grocery checkout processes dovetailed seamlessly with the advent of the computer as a genuine business tool. The automated, mistake-proof material transfers and shipment tracking enabled by barcodes ultimately led to the massive online order management and multi channel commerce applications we know today.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Enter QR codes<\/strong><\/h3>\n

30 years ago, compact disks were beginning to usurp shelf space from traditional vinyl records, and the new kid on the barcode block was making its own presence felt. By expanding from one geometric dimension to two, QR codes suddenly packed up to 100 times more information into an equally compact space. Despite this upgrade, there are still many applications where 1D barcoding is the better solution.<\/span><\/p>\n

Are you ready to earn your bar coding stripes? Read on.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What is a barcode?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It might seem obvious, but do we really know what a barcode is and how it works? In simple terms, a barcode is a pattern of black bars and white spaces of various widths that are decoded into letters and numbers once scanned.<\/span> Inspired by Morse Code<\/span><\/a> consisting of dots and dashes sent over telegraph lines, barcode inventor Joe Woodland originally set his mind on simplifying the grocery checkout process. Spoiler alert: He succeeded.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most recognizable 1D barcodes today are the universal product codes (UPCs) found on consumer items and groceries. These codes also contain 12 printed numbers that correspond to the manufacturer\u2019s ID and part number. 95 black and white bars are broken into 12 sections, and the codes can be read with a simple laser scanner.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What is a QR code?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

2-dimensional QR codes are laid out in a square grid containing a pattern of tiny black and white squares that encode up to 4,296 alphanumeric characters. QR codes date back to the 1990s when<\/span> the<\/span><\/a> Denso Company in Japan<\/span> first used them to label and scan automotive parts. While the stripes of a traditional bar code can still be deciphered manually, QR codes require a complex algorithm to encode or decode the pattern.<\/span><\/p>\n

QR codes can be scanned using an appropriate laser scanner, and most smartphones can also interpret QR codes through their cameras, introducing a host of new applications. Error correction technology is another important element of QR codes that allows them to be read correctly even when up to 30% of the pattern is missing.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Which code is better?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The data carrying capacity and error correction prowess of QR codes might make them seem like an ideal counterpart for advanced inventory management software, but that is not always the case. Depending on your business size and type, traditional barcodes might be a more appropriate and economical alternative.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you don’t understand how to run an efficient operation, new machinery will just give you new problems of operation and maintenance. The sure way to increase productivity is to better administrate man and machine.\u201d<\/span><\/i> \u2013 <\/b>W. Edwards Deming<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Advantages of QR codes<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As the beating heart of your organization, your inventory management system should be tailored to the needs and strengths of your company. Before you decide on a bar coding strategy, review the many benefits of QR codes:<\/span><\/p>\n