From Barcode Scanning to Smart Data Capture

Time for a more intelligent approach

This document is intended as an update for CIOs, architects, software engineering leads and other senior IT professionals involved in reviews, approvals and decision-making that relates to scanning and data capture solutions. These are the technologies that we use to identify and track goods, assets and other tangible objects as they move around within the business, along supply and demand chains, and within the customer and public domains, for example via barcode, QR-code and ID scanning.

Specifically, we’ll discuss the impact of an important shift that’s taking place from a hardware to a software-centric approach. Rather than each type of scanning device being powered by proprietary software, we’re moving to a world that revolves around standards-based, open software that can drive a range of different devices in a smarter and more consistent way. This enables any camera-equipped programmable device to be turned into a smart scanner, from traditional scanning equipment, through commodity phones and tablets, to specialist robots and more. This focus on standard software also opens the door to other transformational developments such as the use of augmented reality user interfaces and no-code integration of scanning functionality into pretty much any on-device app.

We will mostly focus on the software aspect, not just because it is the most critical element of any modern data capture solution, but also because of the mindset shifts it enables. In particular, that’s the ability to move away from proprietary workflows and data silos towards a more open way of working.

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Dale Vile

Dale is a co-founder of Freeform Dynamics, and today runs the company. As part of this, he oversees the organisation’s industry coverage and research agenda, which tracks technology trends and developments, along with IT-related buying behaviour among mainstream enterprises, SMBs and public sector organisations.

Tony Lock

Tony is an IT operations guru. As an ex-IT manager with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, his extensive vendor briefing agenda makes him one of the most well informed analysts in the industry, particularly on the diversity of solutions and approaches available to tackle key operational requirements. If you are a vendor talking about a new offering, be very careful about describing it to Tony as ‘unique’, because if it isn’t, he’ll probably know.