2D Barcode Labels – Out with Retro, In with 2D

2D barcode label on a warehouse wall

With lineal barcodes, the more characters that are encoded, the longer the barcode becomes. In the case of warehouse labels, the density of the barcodes is typically increased to improve scanning distance. (Had we printed this customer’s labels in Code 128 with a mere 100 mil NB size for instance, the barcode alone would have had to be at least 16” long!)

Click to Contact an actual person about laboratory labels

2D codes like DataMatrix do not require high contrast printing or reflectivity since they aren’t “read” by a scanner, but rather are analyzed as a complete image. The customer’s mobile computers (scanners) had integrated digital cameras that can read 2D codes in any orientation and by using DataMatrix they can include much more information within their barcodes. Information such as origin, quantity, product description, weight, etc. can be encoded and be as detailed or simplistic as necessary. This proved to be a great solution for them and it’s helping them keep up with the fast-growing needs and demands of international commerce.