Starting in the early 2000s, inventory management software progressed to the point where businesspeople no longer needed to input data by hand but could instantly update their database with barcode readers.Īlso, the existence of cloud based business software and their increasing adoption by businesses mark a new era for inventory management software. Writing inventory data by hand on paper was replaced by scanning products and inputting information into a computer by hand. Once barcodes and inventory management programs started spreading through grocery stores, inventory management by hand became less practical. As computers became more common and affordable, this hurdle was overcome. One of the biggest hurdles in selling readers and barcodes to retailers was the fact that they didn't have a place to store the information they scanned. It also allowed the first versions of inventory management software to be put into place. This further pushed down the cost of barcodes and readers. In the early 1980s, personal computers began to be popular. There was now one primary barcode for grocers and other retailers to buy one type of reader for. This helped drive down costs for inventory management because retailers in the United States and Canada didn't have to purchase multiple barcode readers to scan competing barcodes.
The Universal Product Code (UPC) was adopted by the grocery industry in April 1973 as the standard barcode for all grocers, though it was not introduced at retailing locations until 1974.
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags and wireless methods of product identification are also growing in popularity. A barcode reader is used to read barcodes and look up information on the products they represent. This way, they can attach prices to their services that reflect the total cost of performing them.īarcodes are often the means whereby data on products and orders are inputted into inventory management software. Nowadays, inventory management software often utilizes barcode, radio-frequency identification (RFID), and/or wireless tracking technology.Ĭompanies that are primarily service-oriented rather than product-oriented can use inventory management software to track the cost of the materials they use to provide services, such as cleaning supplies. for Business, Encyclopedia of Business, 2nd ed.
When a product is in a warehouse or store, it can be tracked via its barcode and/or other tracking criteria, such as serial number, lot number or revision number. This helps companies avoid running out of products or tying up too much capital in inventory. Should inventory reach a specific threshold, a company's inventory management system can be programmed to tell managers to reorder that product.
Inventory management software is made up of several key components working together to create a cohesive inventory of many organization's systems.