Do you need one?
At a busy counter, yes: a scan is faster than typing and never misspells a name. At a quiet counter, the phone or laptop camera in your billing software can do the same job for free.
1D or 2D
A 1D scanner reads the striped barcode. A 2D scanner reads that and QR codes too, copes better with creased or shiny packs, and can read from a phone screen. Many medicine packs now carry a QR code as well, so a 2D scanner is the safer buy.
USB or Bluetooth
A USB scanner plugs into the counter computer and works at once. A Bluetooth scanner works without a cable and can pair with a phone or tablet — keep it charged.
The two settings that matter
Most scanners come set right, but check these two in the manual — it has barcodes you scan to change a setting.
- Keyboard mode (HID): the scanner types like a keyboard
- Enter after the code (CR suffix): the bill takes it at once
- Keyboard language English (US), Caps Lock off
Test it
Open Notepad and scan a pack: the digits should appear in a blink, then a new line. In MedBox24, Settings → Inventory has a scanner test that checks the speed and the Enter for you.
Packs without a barcode, and new packs
Some strips have no barcode, and a strip and its box can carry different codes. Good billing software lets one medicine keep several barcodes and learns a new code the first time you scan it.
See how MedBox24 does it