Barcode scanners for SeroPOS
A barcode scanner turns a ten-second product search into a beep. SeroPOS reads any USB scanner that types like a keyboard straight into the POS search field, and phones and tablets can scan with their camera instead.
Barcode scanners in SeroPOS
No driver needed
USB scanners that act as a keyboard work in the POS search field without any setup in SeroPOS.
Exact match adds
When a scan matches a product's SKU exactly, the item goes straight into the cart.
Camera scanning
Tap Scan Barcode on a phone or tablet and use the built-in camera as the scanner.
Common symbologies
Products can carry Code 128, Code 39, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A or UPC-E barcodes, set in the back office.
Name or SKU search
The same search box finds products by name or SKU when there is no barcode to scan.
Labels for unlabelled stock
Print barcode labels from the web back office for items that arrive without one.
Keyboard-wedge scanners at the counter
Most handheld and countertop barcode scanners sold for retail act as a keyboard: when they read a barcode, they type the digits and press Enter. SeroPOS takes advantage of that. On a tablet or PC, the POS search field accepts the scanned code, and if it matches a product's SKU exactly, the item is added to the cart in one step.
That means there is nothing to install or pair inside SeroPOS. Plug a USB scanner into a Windows PC, Mac or Android tablet, open the sale screen and scan. A Bluetooth scanner set to keyboard mode behaves the same way once it is paired with the device. If a scan does not add anything, check the code printed under the barcode matches the SKU on the product.
Scanning with the camera
Phones and tablets do not need a separate scanner. On the phone layout, the Categories and Products screens both have a Scan Barcode button that opens the camera. The tablet sale screen has the same camera button beside the search field. Point it at the barcode and the matching product is found.
Camera scanning is handy for a market stall, a pop-up or a small shop that rings a few dozen items a day. For a grocery lane or a busy convenience store, a dedicated scanner is faster and works at awkward angles. Barcode lookups go through the server, so scanning needs an internet connection; product name search keeps working from the local catalogue.
Getting barcodes onto your products
Each product has a SKU, which SeroPOS fills in automatically if you leave it blank. Products bought from suppliers usually already carry a UPC or EAN barcode; enter that number as the SKU and the scanner will find it. In the web back office you also choose the barcode type for each product: Code 128, Code 39, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A or UPC-E.
For items you make or repack yourself, print your own labels. Print Labels in the web back office lets you pick products and quantities, choose what appears on each sticker and print them on sheets or rolls. Label printing is done from the back office, not from the SeroPOS app.
- Enter the manufacturer's barcode as the SKU
- Or let SeroPOS create a SKU for you
- Choose the barcode type in the back office
- Print labels for unlabelled items from the back office
Scanning in Retail Mode and beyond
Retail Mode switches the till to shop wording and hides restaurant screens such as tables and kitchen tickets, leaving a New Sale button and a fast product search, which is where a scanner earns its keep. Shops with long product lists, such as hardware, pharmacy or convenience stores, get the most from it, since nobody has to scroll a grid to find the right item.
Scanning also helps with returns. Scan the item, tap the cart line and switch on Return, and the line is taken off the total. For whole-sale refunds, find the invoice in Recent Transactions instead. Products with serial or IMEI tracking turned on keep that detail in the product record, which helps electronics and phone shops.
Frequently asked questions
Which barcode scanners work with SeroPOS?
Any USB or Bluetooth scanner that works as a keyboard, which covers most retail scanners. It types the code into the POS search field and an exact SKU match adds the item to the cart. There is no driver or setting to install in SeroPOS. Phones and tablets can also scan with the camera.
Can I scan barcodes with an iPad camera?
Yes. SeroPOS on iPad and iPhone has a Scan Barcode button that uses the camera. Point it at the barcode and the matching product is found. For high volumes, a keyboard-style Bluetooth scanner paired with the iPad is faster and does the same job through the search field.
Does barcode scanning work offline?
Barcode lookups go through the server, so scanning needs an internet connection. If your connection drops, staff can still find products by name in the search field or from the category grid, and the sale is saved on the device and uploaded later.
What if a product has no barcode?
Print one. In the web back office, Print Labels lets you choose products and quantities, pick what shows on each sticker, such as name and price, and print to a sheet or roll. The barcode uses the product's SKU, so the scanner finds it at the till.
Which barcode types are supported?
Products can use Code 128, Code 39, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A or UPC-E, chosen in the product form in the web back office. Most manufacturers' barcodes are UPC-A or EAN-13; enter the number printed under the barcode as the product's SKU so the scanner matches it.