Barcodes don’t have to be printed onto a product when it is manufactured, they can also be printed on labels which can be stuck onto a product at a later date. The black lines that you see on a barcode label are converted into alphanumeric data when read by a barcode scanner.
Barcode labels can be used to track parcels, shipments and deliveries. They are also used to categorise goods and organise stock in warehouses. Offices use barcode technology to keep their files and folders organised. The most common place where barcodes are used however is in the retail market, where it is important to track goods which have been sold.
Some companies like to tag their valuable assets, which would otherwise cost the company a great deal of money if they were to be misplaced or stolen. The assets which are most commonly tracked include infrastructure and machinery, expensive medical items, computers and electronic equipment, vehicles and construction equipment, furniture and ancillary office items.
Asset tags are used by companies who want to keep a record of their property. Data collected might include an asset’s condition, the date which it was purchased, if it is under warranty and most importantly the name of its owner. A barcode may or may not be featured on an asset tag, for most asset tags a number will suffice.