Barcode & QR best practice

Pick the symbology for the data

Code 128 suits alphanumeric asset numbers, Code 39 remains common in legacy systems, Data Matrix packs the most data into a small area, and QR is best where a phone camera is the scanner.

Size for the scanner and the distance

Module size drives readability far more than overall label size. A handheld scanner at 150mm needs a much smaller module than a fixed scanner reading a pallet from two metres. Tell us the scanner model and read distance and we will size it correctly.

Non-negotiables

These four rules prevent most scanning failures in the field.

• Keep a quiet zone of at least ten times the module width on each side
• Maximise contrast: dark code on a light background, never colour-on-colour
• Avoid gloss laminates under bright overhead lighting, which cause specular reflection
• Verify a sample from every batch on the customer's own hardware