The fashion business is based on speed, trends, and accuracy. However, behind the glitz of fashion shows and retail storefronts lies a complex system—from raw material procurement and product design and creation to warehousing, distribution, inventory management, and point-of-sale operations. In this complex setup, barcoding technology plays a crucial role by streamlining and supporting various processes.
Let’s discuss 5 ways in which barcoding technology helps in the fashion industry, as it enhances operational effectiveness and accuracy of real-time data to streamline fashion retail and inventory management.
Best 5 Ways How Barcoding Helps in The Fashion Industry
Barcoding technology has been in use in fashion retail for decades as it automates manual data capture, from raw materials to final product design and distribution to retailers. Barcode technology is used in the fashion industry in many ways, including:
1. Inventory Accuracy with Barcodes
2. Faster Checkouts using Barcode Technology
3. Smart Returns and Exchange with Barcoding
4. Streamlined Supply Chain with Barcode/QR Code labeling
5. Anti-Counterfeiting with Barcoding
1. Inventory Accuracy with Barcodes
In the fashion retail and apparel sector, each item typically comes in a variety of variations, including color, size, style, and fit. It is inefficient and error-prone to try and manage thousands of SKUs manually.
With barcodes, you can track inventory at all levels instantly and accurately:
a. Know what you have on hand at all times
b. Prevent overstocking or understocking
c. Enable faster restocking, more accurate forecasting
2. Faster Checkouts Using Barcode Technology
Customers dislike waiting. Barcode Scanners at POS terminals can speed up billing by specifying the price and variant of the item instantly with barcode scans.
Some advantages are:
a. Smooth checkout experiences
b. Fewer human errors
c. Quick product and bill-checking
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3. Smart Returns and Exchange with Barcoding
Most retailers indicate that once they implement barcoding in fashion, their billing rates are faster by 20-30%, enhancing the probability of repeat visits and customer satisfaction.
Returns are just a part of fashion. Thanks to barcoding technology in the fashion world:
a. Shop staff can speedily confirm purchases
b. Check if an article is return policy compliant
c. Mark returned to stock as ‘to be returned to the shelf’ or ‘to be inspected’
d. Streamline restocking of returned/exchanged fashion items
4. Streamlined Supply Chain with Barcode/QR Code labeling
Fashion supply chains are generally global: raw materials in one place, stitching in another, retail in a third. Barcodes enable end-to-end visibility within this extended supply chain. Now, QR Code labels are more popular than 1D barcodes, QR Codes can be seen on most fashion labels. QR Codes are easy to scan and store more information about the product, whether finished or in the production stage.
You should be able to track:
a. The factory/production batch of the item
b. When it was received in the warehouse
c. Where it was shipped to in-store
d. When it was sold, swapped, or returned
5. Anti-Counterfeiting with Barcoding
Barcodes, particularly serialized barcodes or QR Codes, can act as a digital fingerprint (per item). Unique invisible barcodes or RFID plus barcode hybrid tags are used by fashion brands today to verify their products. Tamper-proof labels are also used for anti-counterfeiting in fashion.
Tags can be scanned by consumers via apps to:
a.Verify product authenticity
b. Access styling tips or care information
c. Register warranties, or redeem loyalty points
Barcoding Facilitates Data-Driven Decisions in Fashion Retail
In June 2022, a survey by Statista discovered that about 83 percent of general merchandise retailers in the United States and the United Kingdom were confident that their customers would go elsewhere if they did not provide barcoding technology and QR code scanner apps to consumers.
Barcoding in fashion extends beyond operations; it powers your better decisions. When brands scan, they can:
a. Track product performance in real-time
b. Identify fast- and slow-moving stock
c. Optimise seasonal campaign planning
d. Customers can get detailed information on products, fittings, designs, etc.
RFID Technology in Fashion Retail
Apart from barcodes, another popular technology in fashion retail is RFID labeling. RFID is a wireless AIDC technology, similar to barcodes but slightly more efficient when it comes to product identification and tracking. An RFID label or an RFID reader costs more than a typical barcode label or scanner, however, RFID labelling of fashion retail items, raw materials, and finished products ensures a quick and error-free, efficient supply chain and inventory management in fashion retail.
At EnCstore, we not only offer various hardware related to barcoding, including labels, barcode scanners, and mobile computers but also RFID hardware such as RFID labels, RFID readers and antennas, and RFID printers as well.
To summarize, in fashion, where timing, trends, and logistics meet, barcode and RFID technologies usually serve as the behind-the-scenes engine that creates efficient processes. From procuring raw materials to product design and assembly to retail stores, barcodes play a crucial role in fashion. You don't need to be a big retail chain to implement barcoding and barcode implementation can be the key to reducing errors, improving efficiency, and pleasing your customer base.
If you’re looking to implement barcode technology in your business operations, EnCstore offers:
a. Barcode printers & scanners
b. Barcode labels for garments
c. Setup & integration support
d. Pan-India shipping
Frequently Asked Questions on Barcoding in Fashion Industry
1. Why is barcoding important in fashion retail?
Barcoding technology in fashion enables the following: accurate inventory tracking, faster billing, seamless replenishment of out-of-stock items, and customer experience.
2. How do barcodes assist in managing seasonal collections?
Barcodes offer fashion brands the ability to see real-time sales and assess which season items are performing best, and allow the fashion client to better plan seasonal collections down the line.
3. Can barcodes be used to manage inventory online and offline?
Yes. Barcodes can help firms manage inventory, allowing seamless stock accuracy across websites and physical stores.
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