Barcode scanning at the till
Connect a USB barcode scanner to your SeroPOS till and every scan lands the right product in the cart, with nothing to install and no settings to change.
Barcode scanning in SeroPOS
Plug in and scan
Keyboard-wedge scanners type the code like a keyboard, so SeroPOS needs no driver or pairing step.
Exact SKU match
When the scanned code matches a product SKU, the item goes straight into the cart. No extra tap is needed.
Works in every mode
Scanning works on the standard sale screen, in QSR Mode and in Retail Mode.
Variations by code
Each variation can carry its own SKU, so scanning a size or colour adds that exact version.
Common barcode types
Products in the back office can use Code 128, Code 39, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A or UPC-E.
Labels from the back office
Print barcode labels from the web back office for products that arrive without a barcode.
How scanning works in SeroPOS
Most handheld and countertop barcode scanners work in keyboard-wedge mode: the scanner reads the code and types it, followed by Enter, just like a very fast keyboard. SeroPOS listens for that input in the product search field on the sale screen. When the code matches a product's SKU exactly, the item is added to the cart and the field is ready for the next scan.
Because the scanner behaves like a keyboard, there is no driver to install and nothing to configure in SeroPOS. Plug a USB scanner into a Windows PC, a Mac or an Android till that supports USB input and start scanning. If a scan does not match any SKU, the search simply shows no products found, so the cashier knows to check the item.
Setting up products for scanning
Scanning relies on the SKU stored on each product. When you add a product in the back office or the Admin hub, you can type the manufacturer's barcode number into the SKU field. If you leave it blank, SeroPOS creates a SKU for you using your prefix, which is useful for items you label yourself.
Products with variations, such as sizes or colours, can carry a SKU on each variation, so one scan adds the exact version the customer is holding. The back office lets you choose the barcode type for each product, which matters when you print your own labels. Bulk import from a spreadsheet is the quickest way to load SKUs for a large catalogue.
- Code 128
- Code 39
- EAN-13
- EAN-8
- UPC-A
- UPC-E
Scanning at a busy counter
Scanning removes the guesswork from ringing up a basket. Staff do not need to know where a product sits in the category grid, and similar items with different prices are never mixed up. Scan each item as it comes across the counter, or tap the quantity and type the number when a customer buys a case.
Scanning sits alongside everything else on the sale screen. Staff can still tap products, search by name, add an open-price item or weigh produce in the same sale. In QSR Mode the search bar can be shown or hidden from QSR Settings, so check it is switched on if you want to scan on a quick-service grid.
No scanner? Use the camera
Phones and tablets running SeroPOS have a Scan Barcode button on the category and product screens that uses the device camera instead. It reads the barcode, looks up the SKU on the server and adds the product to the cart. Camera scanning needs an internet connection for that lookup, while a USB scanner matches against the products already on the till.
Many shops use both: a fixed scanner at the main counter and a phone or tablet camera for a second till, a market stall or a quick price check on the floor. For items that come without a barcode, print your own labels from the back office using the sticker sheet sizes you set up there, then scan them like any other product.
Frequently asked questions
Which barcode scanners work with SeroPOS?
Any scanner that works in USB keyboard-wedge mode, which covers most handheld and countertop retail scanners. The scanner types the code into the SeroPOS search field and an exact SKU match adds the item. There is no SeroPOS driver to install.
Do I need to install a driver for my barcode scanner?
No. A keyboard-wedge scanner appears to the computer or tablet as a keyboard, so SeroPOS reads its input like typed text. Plug it in, open the sale screen and scan. If the scanner has its own setup barcodes, make sure it is set to add Enter after each scan.
Can I scan items that have size or colour variations?
Yes. Give each variation its own SKU in the product form and scanning adds that exact variation to the cart. If a product only has one SKU for all its variations, the till asks the cashier which size or option to add.
Does barcode scanning work offline?
A USB scanner matches the code against the products already stored on the till, so it keeps working when the internet drops. Camera scanning on phones and tablets looks the SKU up on the server and needs an internet connection.
Can SeroPOS print barcode labels?
Labels are printed from the web back office, not from the SeroPOS app. Choose products and quantities, pick what to show on the label such as name and price, select a sticker sheet setting and preview before printing. Supported formats include Code 128, EAN-13 and UPC-A.