How Retailers Save Time and Improve Service with Bar Coding Technology

Written by Jeff Haefner


We see it everyday. Millions of retailers are using bar codes and scanners to check out customers and enter inventory. Even small stores find that bar coding is practical because it speeds up checkout, tracks stock, and assures pricing accuracy.

Unfortunately, not everyone uses bar coding technology properly. And they don't reap as many benefits as they could.

Utilizing bar codes with your POS software will allow you to...

- Serve customers faster and improve service by quickly scanning bar codes atrepparttar point of sale (POS) instead of typing a SKU.

- Reduce pricing and inventory errors. Scanning bar codes atrepparttar 104870 POS is much more accurate than typing a SKU. The typical error rate for human data entry is 1 error per 300 characters. Barcode scanners can be as good as 1 error in 36 trillion characters depending onrepparttar 104871 type of barcode used.

- Save time and improve efficiency. If all your merchandise is bar coded you can save time by checking out customers faster, instantly implementing mark downs and eliminatingrepparttar 104872 problem of price tag switching.

- Quickly count your inventory at any time. If you purchase a PDT (portable data terminal) you can count and enter your inventory by scanning each item with a PDT. The PDT will store your inventory count so you can quickly upload it into your POS software.

- Reduce costs. If you have UPCs on your merchandise then you don't have to putrepparttar 104873 price tag onrepparttar 104874 product itself, which saves time and reduces handling costs.

- Improverepparttar 104875 accuracy of your inventory. One ofrepparttar 104876 biggest cost savings and benefits is maintaining a more accurate inventory. Bar coding reduces errors at receiving and atrepparttar 104877 point of sale so your inventory stays accurate.

HOW IT WORKS

First of all, a bar code is a series of narrow and wide lines printed on a label or tag. Each bar onrepparttar 104878 label represents a character for a "bar code reader" to interpret.

You can scanrepparttar 104879 bar code with a bar code reader which uses a photosensor to convertrepparttar 104880 bar code into an electrical signal as it moves acrossrepparttar 104881 bars. The scanner then measuresrepparttar 104882 relative widths ofrepparttar 104883 bars and spaces, translatesrepparttar 104884 different patterns back into regular characters, and sends them on to a computer or portable terminal.

Most bar codes look similar but they can have different symbologies or standards. The symbology definesrepparttar 104885 width ofrepparttar 104886 bars andrepparttar 104887 technical details of a particular type of barcode.

For example,repparttar 104888 UPC (Universal Product Code) is seen on almost all retail products inrepparttar 104889 USA and Canada. And EAN-13 is a common code used on European retail products. Your bar code reader and inventory software will need to be setup properly to readrepparttar 104890 "symbology" that you use.

Brand Your Consulting Brilliance

Written by Robert Moment


Today’s competitive marketplace for consulting services is no longer responsive torepparttar marketing strategies that worked inrepparttar 104869 past. The services you provide should speak volumes about your consulting business. Think about what happens when you hear phrases such as, “the ultimate driving machine”, “Don’t leave home without it”, and “Just do it”. Chances are good that you can immediately associate them with BMW, American Express, and Nike. These companies have mastered “brand brilliance.” Brand your consulting brilliance becauserepparttar 104870 future of your business depends on it.

There’s an old adage; “Perception is reality”. Simply stated,repparttar 104871 perception of a brand lies in its ability to influence a client’s behavior. When you have successfully branded your business, inrepparttar 104872 client’s eye there is no service inrepparttar 104873 marketplace quite like your service.

All consulting businesses should have a distinct, sustainable, and competitive advantage to differentiate their services fromrepparttar 104874 competition. I call this process of identifying your advantage “Brand Your Consulting Brilliance”.

Here are six simple steps to brand and differentiate your services inrepparttar 104875 current business environment.

1. Think client focus first.

The client’s reality: Consulting businesses exist to serve clients. Develop a client visitation calendar and schedule in-person visits. Lookrepparttar 104876 client inrepparttar 104877 eye and say, “I am here to serve you.” Follow up and follow through on all client related matters in a timely manner.

Create a client questionnaire so clients can raterepparttar 104878 performance of your services. You want them to tell you how you’re doing and what you can do to serve them better. It’s also a way to discover what challenges they are currently facing. Be relentless in your client retention efforts.

2. Discover a distinct advantage that will set you apart from competitors.

Start by articulating your “unique marketing proposition”, a statement of all ofrepparttar 104879 qualities and characteristics that set your services apart inrepparttar 104880 marketplace. Analyze your services: What skills and services do we provide that are distinctive, measurable, and add value? Which of our past successes can we leverage inrepparttar 104881 marketplace? And don’t forget to ask colleagues what they see as your competitive strengths.

Communicate these messages reinforcing your unique marketing proposition any time you have an opportunity to write or speak about your consulting firm and what you have to offer to prospective clients. 3. Generate publicity.

Cont'd on page 2 ==>
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use