Your barcode or OCR traceability application in 10 points
Do you want to submit a customised data collection application for tracking (barcodes, GPS positions, photos, signatures, characters, handwriting, RFID, etc.) or management, and want it to be appreciated and used, your databases to be correctly completed and filled with the right data, and ultimately for it to be profitable?
List of criteria to be considered in order to fully describe a specific, customised mobile application for internal barcode/RFID data entry within your company
Describe the overall project for the mobile and/or fixed application: imagine the user, their working environment, ergonomics, perceived added value, simplicity (it is easy to make things complicated, simplicity is more difficult to imagine);
One screen = one function and intuition: a mobile terminal screen is small (5" = 5 buttons!), so you can’t fit as much on it as on a PC screen; moreover, finger precision is not the same as mouse precision: therefore, use few fields per session or use tabs or induced functions.
There is no need to read any documentation to use this mobile application – it is unrealistic to think that users will read a documentation page, but consider including help on demand (there is therefore no need to spend time creating user documentation: replace it with a search for more ergonomic functions and layouts);
You will therefore be asked to provide a list of processes to be carried out for each position or situation.
Profitability and figures: Describe how many people and in what context (internal, suppliers, customers) will use the application, what each will expect from it and what value it will bring, or the value that the user or customer will find in it. The value must be quantifiable in monetary terms (including time), the rest is just literature! Data volumes, storage location, interfaces to be considered, number of reads per day. With the gains made and the context, we will be able to tell you whether the project will be profitable and by what means.
Data entry or acquisition speed: The primary return on investment for a barcode, OCR or RFID terminal is based on speed. It is therefore essential that the cursor is positioned in the right place when scanning codes, or that each scan is automatically directed to a specific field depending on the type of barcode, other criteria such as the first characters read, and that the terminal keys are suitable for the type of input: numeric for quantities, alphanumeric for names, touchpad, etc. .
If you are going to use OCR, be sure to test beforehand with our test apps on samples to ensure that the characters are legible and have the right contrast.
In any case, take good photos or collect PDFs of representative samples to send to us: you will be asked for these before any quote is provided.
Adapt to any screen size: It is good to design an application for a basic mobile screen, but it is also good to be able to use the same data collection application on a tablet or PC without having to redo all the development work: here too, our development methods adapt to screen sizes.
Data entry, reading, printing and storage systems: it is necessary to attract as many users as possible to this mobile data entry and collection application; therefore, the application must be able to run on multiple operating systems: classic Windows, Linux, Android, Apple: here again, our tools for single development will generate the same application for all systems without changing anything, and even recover old computers, terminals and smartphones for the sake of the environment and your savings!
Similarly, if printing is necessary, we need to know the number of labels to be printed per month, their size, the medium on which they will be affixed, their type, their readability, their temperature and exposure to the elements.
Finally, if you have data from your home database (such as a list of items), you will need to describe where it is located, how to access it, and how often it is updated.
We therefore need a table with columns for the equipment:
- per user
- types of equipment, including connection type
- quantities of systems requested
- how much and a description of what you plan to reuse
- how much you wish to purchase.
Offline function: The network is not necessarily available in all locations where the terminal is used, so it is useful to provide for the possibility of asynchronous operation of the mobile collection application, referred to as ‘offline’ as opposed to ‘online’,which can easily be achieved via a web page - Offline operation must include synchronisation at the start of the journey to the workplace and on the return journey from the place of operation, its frequency, and any network connection issues. As offline mode requires more planning than online mode, it should not be requested without good reason.
Remote application updates: as offline use of input screens is anticipated, it is important to provide for updating the terminal fleet without having to reprogram them all one by one: the update function must be integrable and achievable on a connection spot (3/4/5G or Wi-Fi) by the user themselves and on the fly: no machine shutdown;
TResults or reports It’s all very well collecting data, but what do we get out of it? Describe the reports requested, the sorting, selection, figures or tables on the computer screen, smartphone or in print.
The testing phase: The mobile application must be perfect in order to be accepted and recognised by users: test it in all positions and situations, first described in a test plan, completed during real tests, continuously: you would be surprised at the number of situations you never imagined but encountered!
It is therefore important to create a set of tests: codes, PDFs, images, description of the test and the result of each one.
Request a quote for a customised traceability or management solution using barcodes, OCR or RFID: instructions for use according to your specific case:
You have a well-prepared budget in writing covering each of the above points: contact us, send us your documents by email and we will provide you with a quote if it is feasible within the given budget. If not, you will be in the following situation.
You have not prepared anything in detail or you are missing some points, including the budget: upon receipt of a few lines of description with the number of users, we will offer you a workshop format with a maximum applicable budget, a 2-hour online video review of your request with a specialist + a detailed report and quote. This will allow you to work with us to build and design the most suitable application.
Contact us to help you finalise your requirements: our experience will help you get there faster.