Barcode Tracking

Barcode tracking is the use of machine-readable barcodes — printed symbols that encode data as patterns of lines or dots — to identify, record, and monitor the movement of goods through a supply chain. From the moment a product is manufactured to the moment it reaches the end customer, barcode scans at key checkpoints create a digital audit trail of every transaction.

How Barcode Tracking Works

A barcode encodes alphanumeric data in a format that a scanner can read optically. When scanned, the barcode reader decodes the symbol and sends the data to a connected system — a WMS, ERP, or TMS — which records the event (received, picked, packed, shipped) along with the timestamp, location, and user.

1D barcodes (linear): Code 128, Code 39, ITF-14, EAN-13, UPC-A. Encode data horizontally. Widely used on consumer products, shipping labels, and carton labels.

2D barcodes: QR codes, Data Matrix, PDF417. Encode data in both dimensions, enabling much higher data density. Used on pharmaceutical serialization, airline boarding passes, and when more data must fit in a smaller space.

GS1 standards: Most supply chain barcodes follow GS1 standards, which define what data the barcode encodes — the GTIN (product identifier), lot number, expiry date, serial number — and how trading partners should interpret it. Walmart, Amazon, and most major retailers require GS1-compliant barcodes.

Barcode Tracking in a Fulfillment Center

In a typical warehouse workflow:

1. Receiving: Inbound cartons are scanned against the ASN; the system records receipt and generates putaway tasks
2. Putaway: Each item or carton is scanned at its storage location; the WMS knows exactly where every SKU is
3. Picking: Pickers scan items against the pick list to confirm the right product and quantity
4. Packing: Pack station scans verify the correct items are in each shipment
5. Shipping: Shipping labels (with tracking barcodes) are generated; the scan triggers carrier manifest and tracking activation

A single order might generate 10+ scan events from receipt to delivery, each creating a timestamped record.

Barcode vs. RFID

Barcodes require line-of-sight scanning — a human or fixed scanner must "see" each barcode. RFID tags can be read without line of sight and multiple tags can be read simultaneously. RFID enables faster cycle counts and automated receiving, but carries higher per-tag cost ($0.10–$0.50 vs. fractions of a cent for printed barcodes). Most operations use both: barcodes for item-level tracking and RFID for pallet or carton-level bulk scanning.