Benefits of a Barcode Inventory Management System

If you’re responsible for a heavy-duty repair shop, you might have heard that barcode-based inventory systems can help businesses like yours. Even so, you may not have had an opportunity to go hands-on with one of these systems—until now. Welcome to Fullbay’s cutting-edge Barcode Inventory Management System!

To get started, open your phone’s camera app and scan this QR code:

Congratulations! You’ve just accepted a delivery for your shop’s new inventory management system. Once you set it up, you’ll find it much easier to order parts when you need them and improve your business’s overall efficiency.

But where did the hardware for this system end up, you might ask? Just scan the next code to find out:

That’s right—your new system’s real-time parts tracking capabilities can help you locate components with ease. Read on to learn more about these benefits and other advantages of using a barcode inventory management system at your shop!

What is a Barcode Inventory Management System?

In the past, heavy-duty shops relied on manual parts tracking methods to keep track of their inventory. Fortunately, the growing popularity of computerized inventory management systems has changed things. Since these systems focus on a digital approach to parts tracking, they can help RV repair shops track parts more accurately than ever before.

The term “barcode inventory management system” describes any inventory system that tracks components with barcodes instead of RFID tags or another tracking method. These systems consist of three basic components:

1. Barcode Labels

Barcode labels are the actual codes you’ll use to track parts in your shop. Though there are many different types of barcodes, they all fall into two basic categories:

• 1D barcodes are a series of parallel lines that vary in thickness and spacing. Many different types of barcodes fall into this category, including UPCs—making them the first thing most people think of when they hear the word “barcode.”
• 2D barcodes (such as QR codes) store data both horizontally and vertically. Because of that, they can store much more data; while a 1D barcode can store nearly 100 characters, 2D codes can store thousands.

2. Barcode Hardware

Any physical device techs use to interact with barcodes can be considered a form of barcode hardware. That includes the handheld scanners they use to check barcodes (or mobile/tablet devices, if applicable), as well as the barcode generators they use to create and print new codes.

3. Inventory Management Software

Finally, inventory management software is what ties a barcode inventory system together. With one of these programs, you can use barcode tracking to check part levels and locations throughout your shop.

Key Benefits of a Barcode Inventory Management System for RV Repair Shops

Switching to a barcode-based approach to inventory management will take some time and effort, but these systems can make life easier for you and your employees in many ways. The features included in modern barcode inventory management systems can help your shop access advantages like:

Increased Accuracy in Inventory Tracking

When your repair shop uses barcode scans to track inventory locations and update part levels, your workers won’t be responsible for updating this information manually. What this means for you is that your inventory information will be all but immune to human error.

Instead, you’ll have up-to-the-minute updates on your shop’s inventory. This means you’ll have a much easier time making informed decisions related to parts reordering and more.

Time Efficiency

Using a handheld scanner for inventory tracking isn’t just more accurate than manually taking down data—it’s faster, too. When your shop uses barcodes for inventory management, your workers will be able to collect data for parts tracking and inventory levels in moments. (To streamline your workflow even further, look for inventory management systems that can work with your current accounting software.)

Improved Stock Control

Both overstocking and understocking can spell trouble for heavy duty repair shops of any kind. Since a barcode scan system will always provide reliable data on part levels, you can use one of these systems to order the exact number of parts your shop needs. As a result, you’ll almost never have to delay repair work due to inventory issues.

Cost Savings

The improved stock control made possible by barcode inventory software will do more than help your shop complete jobs in a timely manner. When you always order the exact number of parts you need, you’ll save money in the process.

It isn’t hard to see how overstocking parts can cost your shop money—this practice can lead to unnecessary purchases while increasing your risk of part waste. On the other hand, understocking can force your shop to pause in-process jobs due to missing parts. Fortunately, the powerful data barcode systems collect can prevent both of these issues from affecting your shop.

Enhanced Reporting and Analytics

The information from your barcode inventory system makes it possible to run a truly data-driven shop. Once you start collecting this data, you can access detailed reports on inventory levels, part usage, and sales trends. From there, you’ll be able to use this real-time data to make wise choices about the future of your business.

Better Customer Service

When you don’t have to worry about running out of parts, you’ll never have to tell customers their jobs won’t be ready on time due to stock issues. Barcode scanners can also speed up repairs by helping techs find parts as quickly as possible. Both of these perks can help you provide enhanced customer service, increasing the odds of clients having positive experiences at your shop.

Considerations for Implementing a Barcode Inventory Management System

To enjoy the full benefits of barcode-powered inventory management, you’ll need to consider a few factors before investing in one of these systems. While you’re looking for a new inventory management system, it’s a good idea to think about:

• Initial setup costs. Adopting a barcode-based inventory system will require investments in both software and hardware (such as barcode scanners and barcode generators). However, these systems can pay for themselves over the long term.
• Employee training. Any new system will come with a learning curve for the people working at your shop. The best inventory systems make this easier by offering training features.
• Barcode system integration. If your inventory system can integrate with your shop’s accounting software and other platforms you already use, you’ll be able to follow a unified approach to managing your business processes.

Choose the Best Barcode Inventory Management System

Since there are so many inventory management products on the market today, choosing one may feel like a challenging task. But if you’re ready to find the perfect barcode inventory management system for your heavy-duty shop, this QR code should help:

Yes, Fullbay can help your employees manage inventory like a pro. With our powerful inventory system, heavy-duty shops can benefit from a more efficient workflow, accurate part tracking, and optimized component expenses—just to name a few benefits. If you’d like to learn more about our software, schedule an actual demo today!