Buyer’s Guide for GS1 DataBar Scanners

Achieve in-store efficiencies envisioned through the use of GS1 DataBar™ (formerly RSS) by ensuring all of your scanning equipment storewide is GS1 DataBar capable by the January 1, 2010 Sunrise date. Here are important steps to follow for both new and installed scanners:

• Identify current scanning equipement
• Identify GS1 DataBar capable scanners
• Review new scanner purchase plans
• Ensure purchase contracts specify GS1 DataBar standards
• Make sure GS1-capable scanners read GS1 DataBar
• Make sure GS1 DataBar capability is turned off until store is ready

Identify current scanning equipement

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Working with an internal team: identify and list all of your current scanning equipment by store. For each, include make, model, and supplier.

1. Include all of your in-store scanners and devices with integrated scanners.
   Experience of early adopters is that some scanner read points are easily overlooked. Examples of read points are POS (hand held, tabletop, or both types at a single POS), kiosk and self service, specialty departments, seasonal departments, in-store applications such as price verification, ordering, inventory, and store receiving.
   In-store applications frequently use portable data entry terminals, pocket PC devices, or PCs. Scanners are integrated, wireless, or cabled.
2. Review scanning operations in distribution, not for logistics items such as pallets and other containers marked with SSCC, but for applications where items that will cross the POS are separately handled. An example is pick-n-pack of individual items to returnable containers.

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Identify GS1 DataBar capable scanners

Identify those scanners that are GS1 DataBar capable. Test unique makes and models. Use the GS1 DataBar (RSS) 2010 Test Card and instructions obtained from you local GS1 MO representative.

• View a list of GS1 DataBar capable scanners

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Review new scanner purchase plans

Review your new scanner and device purchase plans to assure non-upgradeable equipment is included in replacement plans before 2010.

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Ensure purchase contracts specify GS1 DataBar standards

For all new purchases, ensure your purchase contracts specify GS1 DataBar standards compliance in addition to the other GS1 symbologies: EAN/UPC, GS1-128, and ITF-14. This compliance includes the ability for the scanner to scan and decode all GS1 DataBar symbol types (Exception: Point-of-Sale scanner should only be required to scan the four GS1 DataBar Versions designed for POS). This compliance also means the scanner system is capable of processing GS1 Application Identifiers according to GS1 General Specifications (for more details see GS1 DataBar Readiness Report and for GS1 General Specifications, contact GS1 Member Organizations).The only exceptions are that high volume tabletop scanners are not required by GS1 standards to scan ITF-14 or GS1-128.

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Make sure GS1-capable scanners read GS1 DataBar

Make sure that GS1 capable scanners read all variations of the Omnidirectional GS1 DataBar symbologies. These are on the GS1 DataBar (RSS) 2010 Test Card.

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Make sure GS1 DataBar capability is turned off until store is ready

Make sure that GS1 DataBar capability is turned off on each scanner until the store is ready to read GS1 DataBar symbols. At that time, it will need to be turned on. The scanner is normally in maintenance mode to enable/disable its functions. If the scanner reads GS1 DataBar symbols containing additional data, it would be treated as an error. The resulting delay would slow throughput.

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