Bar code - the word recalls the image of black stripes interspersed with white spaces, found invariably in all the packaged products. This system of identification and data capture was originally developed to improve the efficacy of the retail chains, grown beyond its premises and carved its niche, wherever innovation still continues! Any computerized system is made up of data feeding, information processing and generating the output in desired format. Bar code finds its place in data feeding. For example, in retail stores, each item/product is allotted a unique number, which is printed as bar code on the product label. The database system have this number with details such as product name, price etc. When the customer produces any product at the bill counter, the scanner reads the bar code and identifies the product to generate the bill and also updates the inventory. Today, bar coding is the most cost effective, speedy, accurate, easy to implement, automatic data collection technology. The National Task Force on Information Technology (setup by Hon'ble Prime Minister) has recommended that bar coding of every item sold in the country shall be made compulsory by 2005. To enable (1)this, Government of India has setup EAN-India, under Ministry of Commerce as an affiliate of EAN (European Article Numbering) International, Belgium. EAN-India follows the UCC (Uniform Code Council) coding system, which consists of 13 digits. The first 3 digits indicate country of origin (890 for India), last digit is the check digit and the remaining indicates the product details. To implement bar code system, the requirements are a printer (preferably laser), a bar code scanner and the bar code generating software. The cost of the scanners vary from Rs.5,000 to a lakh Rupee (2004 price). The bar code software is either supplied with the scanner or may be procured from market. For enthusiasts one good news! free bar code generating softwares are also available in websites such as www.barcodemill.co.uk, www.milk.com. Indian book stores lacks on this topic, but one good suggestible book is 'Bar codes Technology and Implementation' by A.S.Bhaskar Raj. During the last decade there is a phenomenal growth in computerization of the Accounts branch, but it was centered only on data processing and output generation. Now, the time is ripe for the last phase i.e. the automatic data capture. Bar code has as many applications as wheel has, but it all depends on the degree of innovation and the dedication in implementation. Here is an application, The Stores branch prepares the Purchase Orders (PO) and copies are given to Accounts, user department, supplier etc. The details of PO are again manually fed into the system in Accounts and also at the supplier end (if the supplier bill preparation is computerized). This is the weakest link in automation and computerization, posing problems such as slow data transfer and prone to errors. The solution lies in 2D bar codes. This type of bar codes is capable of storing a page full of information in few square inches. The entire PO information may be converted into 2D bar code and the same may be printed at the earmarked place on the PO (the details given at present may continue for a smooth transition). At the time of receipt of PO by Accounts Office, the details may be immediately transferred to the system by (4)scanning and at the time of bill passing, once the internal check is over, the PO may be locked by scanning. At the customer end, the supplier bill may be prepared by scanning the PO. In addition to the above, Bar codes also enhances the security of data. The use of bar code to Stores and Accounts branches may sounds strange, but in the current scenario of (5)increasing workload, reducing manpower and the need for complete automation, its intrusion is inevitable. (1)EAN-India website: www.eanindia.com (2)Printed using www.barcodemill.co.uk (bar code type EAN-13) (3)Courtesy: EAN-India(4)Scanning refers to reading of bar code using the bar code scanner Thanks to Smt.T.Hema Suneetha, IRAS, Sr.DFM/MAS for offering valuable suggestions

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