Barcodes: In Our World

Last week I wrote about how the TSA is testing the use of digital boarding passes where we can use our PDA or cell phones to present the barcode for scanning by the TSA agent. A very practical use in the transportation industry yet in our world, the world of ECM and ERM, we have used this method to capture information and streamline processes for many years.

Barcodes have been used on documents to identify them, physical items to manage and track them or on separator sheets to differentiate one batch of scanned images from another when they are captured. In some cases, and I will stay with the transportation theme for this example, trucking companies leverage the use of barcodes to streamline to capture process and speed up invoicing customers. In this case, the trucking company has barcodes on all associated paperwork with a delivery, that represents the PRO number. When these documents are scanned, the recognition software reads the barcode on the document which in turn initiates a call to the line of business application pulling down information or metadata, that is used to populate the ECM system thereby automating the capture and index process. Upon completion, when all associated documents with the assigned PRO number have been captured, invoicing can be executed. Capture of this information isn't restricted to a central location and in many cases is accomplished at transfer stations, or even from services centers. 

This is but one example of how barcodes have been and are being used effectively by business organizations around the world. Healthcare uses them for tracking patients and match records and medications through barcode tracking. Law enforcement uses the combination of ECM or ERM and barcodes to track and manage physical evidence related to criminal cases. The uses are wide spread and perpetual. The question is now one of time. How long will we see barcode use with the advent of other technologies like RFID where costs are coming down and mere proximity registers the item and its movement making management a simpler process.

I would like to know how you use barcodes with your ECM or ERM system? Are you using or considering the use of RFID with your ECM or ERM system? What do you see as the overall benefits gained as a result?

Bob Larrivee - AIIM

Comments

[Rob Marano]

Bob,

You asked several questions on barcoding:
(1) To know how you use barcodes with your ECM or ERM system?

We have integrated barcoding into the lifecycle of documents as they are collaborated, shared, printed, created electronically, etc - from cradle to grave just like physical assets are managed and tracked by supply chain management solutions.

(2) Are you using or considering the use of RFID with your ECM or ERM system?

Yes we are and are working with a large printer company to embed our electronic barcodes from the digital document directly into the RFID embedded in the paper that is programmed by the next generation of printers.

(3) What do you see as the overall benefits gained as a result?

The overall gain is better, more accurate intelligence to assure that documents/files deemed to be sensitive: assurance means understanding how the documents/files are used, where when, etc; help build better, more accurate policies to match accepted user behaviors on the documents; and contextually enforce policies with the appropriate DRM/ERM system - all based upon how the document is used - whereever and whenever.

[Dee]

Bob, thank for the info. Im doing a research paper on barcodes. Send me info please