Many companies rely on

barcode printers stationed at one central location. Labels are

printed

as needed and then transported to where they will be used on products. In some

cases, this means little more than handing them to someone within a few feet of

the printer. In other situations, getting the labels to the products can be a

time-consuming an inefficient process-especially when unplanned needs or

emergencies arise. Portable barcode printers provide a solution to this problem.

Portable barcode printers can work in any one of many ways. Some are wi-fi

compatible wireless units to which label information can be sent easily from the

label-generating computer. In other cases, portable barcode printers will still

need to be wired into the network for use. Some portable barcode printers are

small enough to be clipped to a belt, others may take up an entire desk.

The unique needs of the buyer will dictate the type of printer utilized. One

potent combination features a pocket PC and a small single-label printer that

can be worn on one's person, allowing for the creation of labels at a moment's

notice from any location.

The primary advantage to be gained from using portable barcode printers is

increased efficiency. Those who can use a portable solution are able to create

single and short-run labels as necessary and to have them print close to the

point of application. For larger operations where a central label printer may be

far from the product site, this can be a godsend.

The discovery of a bad run of barcode labels could be disaster if a portable

barcode printer is not available. Solving the problem might require multiple

telephone calls, the creation of new labels, use of a courier and other hassles.

By having barcode printers in the immediate proximity of products and areas

where labels will often be needed, efficiency can be increased tremendously.