What You’ll Learn

By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to:

• Scan barcodes with your mobile device
• Use barcode scanning for sales
• Scan for stock operations
• Troubleshoot scanning issues
• Set up barcode workflows

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Barcode Scanning Overview

What You Can Do:

• 📱 Mobile scanning — Use phone camera
• 🔍 Product lookup — Find products instantly
• ⚡ Fast sales — Quick checkout
• 📦 Inventory management — Rapid stock entry
• 🏷️ Product verification — Confirm correct item

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Supported Barcode Types

Kelola supports common barcode formats:

Type	Format	Use Case
EAN-13	13 digits	Retail products globally
UPC-A	12 digits	North American retail
Code 128	Alphanumeric	Internal codes, shipping
Code 39	Alphanumeric	Industrial, defense
QR Code	2D	URLs, information

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Mobile App Scanning

Using Camera Scanner

For sales and stock:

1. Open Stock Out (or Stock In)
2. Tap “Scan” icon (camera)
3. Point camera at barcode
4. Hold steady until beep
5. Product auto-adds to list

Tips for success:

• ✅ Good lighting
• ✅ Steady hands
• ✅ Clear barcode (not wrinkled)
• ✅ Close enough to fill frame
• ❌ Avoid glare/shadows

Scanning Multiple Items

Rapid scanning mode:

1. Keep scan screen open
2. Scan first item
3. Immediately scan next
4. Items accumulate in list
5. Tap “Done” when finished

Pro tip: Practice the rhythm — scan, move, scan, move.

Manual Entry Fallback

When scanning fails:

1. Tap “Enter Manually”
2. Type barcode number
3. Tap “Search”
4. Select product

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Web Scanner (USB)

Setup

For desktop/laptop:

1. Connect USB barcode scanner
2. Wait for driver installation
3. Scanner acts as keyboard input
4. No additional software needed

Using Web Scanner

On web.kelola.co:

1. Open Stock In/Out
2. Click “Scan Barcode” button
3. Scanner beeps, product appears
4. Quantity defaults to 1
5. Adjust if needed
6. Scan next item

Scanner Configuration

Most scanners work out-of-box. If issues:

1. Ensure scanner in “HID keyboard” mode
2. Check suffix settings (should send Enter)
3. Verify barcode type enabled
4. Test in text editor first

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Scanning Workflows

Fast Checkout (Retail)

Scenario: Customer with multiple items

1. Open Stock Out
2. Tap Scan
3. Scan each item rapidly
4. Review list
5. Select customer (optional)
6. Submit sale
7. Print receipt

Time saved: 50-70% vs manual search

Receiving Inventory

Scenario: Large delivery from supplier

1. Open Stock In
2. Tap Scan
3. Scan each item as unloaded
4. Verify quantities match delivery note
5. Submit stock in
6. Organize on shelves

Benefits:

• Real-time inventory update
• No paperwork backlog
• Immediate discrepancy detection

Stock Audit

Scenario: Monthly inventory count

1. Open Stock Audit
2. Tap Scan
3. Scan each item on shelf
4. System shows expected quantity
5. Enter actual count
6. Move to next item

Accuracy: Eliminates manual entry errors

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Barcode Best Practices

Product Setup

✅ Assign unique barcodes

• One barcode per SKU
• No duplicates
• Consistent format

✅ Print quality labels

• Clear, high-contrast
• Proper size (min 1.5cm width)
• Durable material
• Proper placement

✅ Test before use

• Scan new barcodes
• Verify correct product
• Check all scanner types

Daily Operations

✅ Scanner hygiene

• Clean camera lens regularly
• Wipe scanner window
• Check for damage

✅ Lighting matters

• Avoid direct glare
• Ensure adequate light
• Adjust angle if needed

✅ Backup plan

• Know manual entry process
• Keep product list accessible
• Train all staff

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Troubleshooting

”Barcode not scanning”

Common causes:

Issue	Solution
Poor lighting	Move to brighter area
Blurry barcode	Hold camera steadier
Damaged barcode	Enter manually
Wrong barcode type	Check format support
Glare/reflection	Adjust angle
Too far/close	Find optimal distance

”Wrong product found”

Check:

• Barcode assigned to correct product
• No duplicate barcodes in system
• Scanner reading complete code

Fix:

1. Verify product barcode in system
2. Reassign if wrong
3. Check for duplicates

”Scanner not working (web)”

Check:

• USB connection secure
• Scanner powered on
• Correct mode (keyboard emulation)
• Cursor in scan field

Try:

• Different USB port
• Restart browser
• Test in notepad

”Slow scanning”

Improvements:

• Clean camera lens
• Better lighting
• Update app
• Restart device
• Check internet (for lookup)

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Advanced Tips

Bulk Barcode Import

Setting up many products:

1. Prepare CSV with: Product Name, Barcode, Price
2. Use web import tool
3. Upload file
4. Verify mappings
5. Import

Barcode Printing

Create your own barcodes:

• Use barcode generator software
• Print on label sheets
• Apply to products
• Scan to verify

Custom Barcodes

For products without manufacturer codes:

1. Generate unique codes
2. Use internal SKU format
3. Print and apply labels
4. Scan in Kelola

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FAQ

Q: Do I need a special device to scan? A: No! Use your smartphone camera. USB scanners are optional for high-volume.

Q: Can I scan without internet? A: Product lookup requires internet. Barcode scanning works offline if product cached.

Q: What if a product has no barcode? A: Create and print your own barcode label, or use manual search.

Q: Can I scan multiple barcodes at once? A: No, scan one at a time. But you can scan rapidly in sequence.

Q: Do barcodes work across all my devices? A: Yes! Barcodes are tied to products, accessible on mobile and web.

Q: Can customers scan my product barcodes? A: Only if they have access to your Kelola system. For customer scanning, use catalogs.