Barcode scanning with hardware you have
The NextStock floor app runs in a mobile browser and takes two kinds of input: a keyboard-wedge scanner that types the code and presses Enter, and the device camera on compatible phones and browsers. You don't need a native app or a specific handheld.
Highlights
Keyboard-wedge scanners
Scanners that type the barcode followed by Enter work, from rugged handhelds to Bluetooth ring scanners and USB scanners at a bench.
Camera scanning
On compatible devices and browsers, the camera reads barcodes directly, which suits low-volume tasks and backup devices.
GS1 barcode parsing
At receiving, GTIN, lot, expiry and serial are read from GS1-128 and DataMatrix application identifiers in one scan.
Scans that check the task
Picks, putaways and packing compare each scan with the task and reject the wrong item, bin or lot.
Why scanning beats typing in a warehouse
Typing a SKU is slow and error-prone. OIL-008 and OIL-080 differ by one keystroke. A scan removes the typing, but the bigger gain is verification: the system can check that the thing in your hand is the thing the task asked for.
Scanning only works if labels are right. Our guide to warehouse barcode labels covers symbologies, sizes and placement.
What you can scan in NextStock
NextStock reads the barcodes your team handles every day.
- Product barcodes, including a separate barcode for each pack level; scanning a case barcode counts the case quantity
- Location labels printed from NextStock for every bin
- License plates on pallets, cartons and totes
- GS1-128 and DataMatrix supplier labels, parsed into GTIN, lot, expiry and serial at receiving
Choosing scanning hardware
Keyboard-wedge input is the most flexible option. A rugged Android handheld with a built-in scanner set to wedge mode is the common choice for high volume. A Bluetooth scanner paired with an ordinary phone is cheaper and works well for receiving and counts. A USB scanner suits a packing bench.
Camera scanning is useful for occasional tasks, backup devices and small teams, but it is slower than a dedicated scanner and depends on light and label quality. Test your devices and browsers before buying in bulk. The floor app installs to the home screen as a web app.
Where scans are required
Scanning is enforced where a mistake is expensive. In order picking, the picker must scan the item at every stop, and the scan is checked against the task.
- Bin scan at each pick stop, if the warehouse requires it
- Source license plate scan when the allocation names a plate
- Lot scan when a bin holds more than one lot of the SKU
- One serial scan per unit for serial-tracked SKUs
- Destination bin scan at putaway; choosing a different bin than suggested needs a reason
- Scan-verified packing before a package is closed
When a barcode is missing or unknown
Floors always meet an item with no record: a supplier sends a new SKU, or a label is from an unfamiliar format. In NextStock, operators capture it as a provisional item, and the office reviews and activates it rather than blocking the dock.
Damaged location and pallet labels can be reprinted as ZPL through label printing, directly to a thermal printer or as a download.
Setup tips for barcode scanning
Label every bin before go-live, including floor locations and staging areas. Configure each scanner to send Enter after the code, since that is how the floor app knows a scan is complete. Ask suppliers for GS1 labels with lot and expiry where your products carry them. For a full rollout plan, see receiving and putaway, where most scanning starts.
Built for
Frequently asked questions
Short, direct answers to the questions warehouse teams ask most.
Do I need special handheld devices?
No. A phone or handheld with a modern mobile browser can run the floor app. Pair it with a keyboard-wedge scanner that sends Enter after each code, or use the camera on compatible devices. Rugged handhelds help in high-volume or cold environments, but they aren't required to start.
Does NextStock read GS1 barcodes?
Yes. At receiving, NextStock parses GS1-128 and GS1 DataMatrix barcodes and reads the GTIN (01), lot (10), expiry (17) and serial (21) application identifiers. One scan of a compliant supplier label fills in all of these fields instead of four separate entries.
Can I scan a case instead of each unit?
Yes. Each product can have a pack hierarchy of each, case and pallet, with a barcode for each pack level. Scanning a case barcode records the full case quantity in base units, so a picker taking two cases of 12 scans twice, not 24 times.
Is RFID supported?
No. NextStock works with 1D and 2D barcodes through keyboard-wedge scanners and device cameras. RFID readers and tags are not supported. For most small and mid-size warehouses, well-placed barcode labels on bins, products and pallets give the same scan-to-confirm control at a far lower setup cost.
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