How do UPCs (barcodes) help with inventory control?


A.
Companies can scan the codes to quickly enter data whenever products are received, moved, or shipped.

B.
Barcodes can trigger an order when inventory levels fall to a reorder point.

C.
Barcodes can make forecasts and estimates of the company's inventory needs.

D.
Companies can use them to store information about inventory items on cards.

A. Companies can scan the codes to quickly enter data whenever products are received, moved, or shipped.

A. Companies can scan the codes to quickly enter data whenever products are received, moved, or shipped.

B. Barcodes can trigger an order when inventory levels fall to a reorder point.

The correct answers are A and B.

A. Companies can scan the codes to quickly enter data whenever products are received, moved, or shipped. UPCs (barcodes) provide a convenient way to capture and record information about inventory items. When products are received into the inventory, moved between locations, or shipped to customers, the UPC codes can be scanned using barcode scanners or mobile devices equipped with barcode scanning capabilities. This allows companies to enter data accurately and quickly, reducing the chances of human error and saving time.

B. Barcodes can trigger an order when inventory levels fall to a reorder point. By assigning a barcode to each product and linking it to the inventory management system, companies can automate the process of monitoring inventory levels. When the inventory of a particular product falls to a predetermined reorder point, the barcode scanning system can trigger an automatic order request. This helps companies avoid stockouts or overstock situations, ensuring optimal inventory levels.

C. Barcodes themselves do not make forecasts or estimates of the company's inventory needs. However, by tracking sales patterns and history using barcode data, companies can use inventory management software to make more accurate forecasts and estimates of their inventory needs. The barcode data acts as input for such software tools, which then analyze the data and generate inventory forecasts based on historical trends and other factors.

D. Barcodes are not typically used to store information about inventory items on cards. Instead, barcodes act as a link or identifier for retrieving information stored in a database or inventory management system. The information about inventory items, such as product details, quantities, pricing, and more, is usually stored and managed in a computerized system, and the barcodes provide an efficient way to access and update that information.