Barcode scanning for Sri Lankan shops: use the codes already on your products
· 5 min read · SHENZEE Tech
Walk along any shelf in Sri Lanka and you will find barcodes already printed on books, bottles, biscuits and medicine packs. You do not need to create new codes for those products. You can use the ones that are there.
Two ways to scan
- A USB or Bluetooth barcode scanner. It types the code into the software as if you typed it on a keyboard, so it works with almost any POS. Fast and cheap.
- A phone or PC camera. No extra hardware. Slower than a scanner at a busy counter, but handy when you add products or count stock.
Use the printed code when you add a product
When you create a product, put the printed barcode in the SKU/barcode field. In Nexsora you can scan it with the camera instead of typing, and it also tries to fill in the name and brand from public product databases. Many local items are not in those databases, so type the details yourself when it finds nothing.
Use it when you update stock
When a delivery arrives, scan each pack to find the product, then enter the quantity. If a barcode is not in your system, you are offered to add it as a new product with the code already filled in. That stops duplicate products.
When to print your own labels
Print labels for items with no barcode: loose goods, clothes, repaired items, or products you pack yourself. Pick a label size that matches your roll, such as 50 x 25 mm, and print one label per unit.
Barcode types in short
- EAN-13 is the usual code on retail products.
- Code 128 is good for your own internal labels.
- UPC-A appears on some imported items.
The rule of thumb: scan whatever is already printed, and label only what is not.