Although the idea of a barcode system originated in 1932, the first barcode scanner identified a pack of Wrigley’s chewing gum at an Ohio supermarket in 1974. Since then, optimal markings that embed information for machines and cameras to recognize — i.e., barcodes — have remained the asset identification method of choice for retailers worldwide.
Typically used to identify commodities, barcode technology can also be used today for asset tracking. For example, a cash register has a physical address. Anytime an item is scanned, users can see exactly where that product was at a certain point in time.
