AppSheet with Smartsheet Barcode Reader: Making it work for you

AppSheet with Smartsheet together let you capture Barcodes or QR coded data using the camera on your Smartphone. Just point, click and download the data in an instant. It’s that simple. Not only that, but these incredibly versatile tools also have the ability to apply Conditional Logic to Smart sheets. The ease of use partly explains the rise of QR code applications.

What is a QR code?

A barcode is a machine-readable optical image that contains information specific to the labelled item. In practice, Quick Reponse codes contain data for a locator, an identifier, and a website visitor tracking. To efficiently store data, QR codes use four standardized modes of encoding (i) numeric, (ii) alphanumeric, (iii) byte or binary, and (iv) kanji.

Creating a QR code

A QR code consists of black squares arranged in a square grid on a white background, including some fiducial markers, which can be read by an imaging device such as a camera, and processed using Reed–Solomon error correction until the image can be appropriately interpreted.

The required data is then extracted from patterns that are present in both horizontal and vertical components of the image.

What is a Barcode?

The barcode was invented by Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver and patented in the US in 1952. The invention was based on Morse code that was extended to thin and thick bars. However, it took over twenty years before this invention became commercially successful.

Barcodes became commercially successful when they were used to automate supermarket checkout systems, a task for which they have become almost universal. The Uniform Grocery Product Code Council had chosen, in 1973, the barcode design developed by George Laurer. Laurer’s barcode, with vertical bars, printed better than previous versions. 

Dynamic barcodes developed to prevent fraud

The first ever Dynamic Barcode, invented by Alan Amron in 2011, was the first patented in digital eChanging dynamic barcode. It was developed to prevent digital fraud. It is the digital age version of today’s stagnant still static barcodes, continually updating the digital barcode, QR code, Alphanumerical or any discernible image from a static one to a rotating one that cannot be duplicated to prevent digital ticket fraud.

Barcode and QR code labelling generate data that needs management and analysis. Using Appsheet with Smartsheet barcode reader technology can help with this task.

Uses of Appsheet with Smartsheet barcode reader technology

You can use barcodes or QR Codes for all sorts of things and Appsheet with Smartsheet to help you manage the vast quantities of data collected from a barcode reader. For example:

• Scan a package in or out and add/reduce stock levels. Update items that need reordering, eg manage your PPE stock and usage stats dashboard. Your system is updated immediately.
• Identify a manufacturing job to progress it to completion. Discover a job’s history and details in one click.
• Clock in and out of a desk/room/office/site/machine. Automatically update timesheets or equipment usage or hire.

The benefits of using Appsheet with Smartsheet

Here are just a few of the reasons why our clients love this ‘rather nifty’ feature:

• Flexibility. Our consultants have been implementing this tool for clients in a range of industries, including construction, surveying, manufacturing and delivery. Just tell us what data you need to record and we’ll do the rest. The work takes days not months, making it affordable and accessible.

• Portable. Code scanning is particularly useful for clients whose teams are out on site. They can simply use the camera in their own smartphones to capture data while on the move. No signal? No problem. AppSheet can store the data in your device until you are ready to sync.

• Ease of use. Clients tell us making features user friendly is a must when rolling out new tech to their teams. AppSheet’s code scanner reduces pushback by being so simple and easy to use. Your staff will wonder why you never thought of it sooner.

• Easy to implement. Using AppSheet with Smartsheet delivers all the ease you would expect from a no code / low code programme. You don’t need to download a scanner app, you can just use your smartphone camera.

• Environmentally friendly. By going digital with your data you can make form filling, paper and pencils a thing of the past. Code scanning with Appsheet eliminates all this, one simple click of your camera.