Scanbuy releases enterprise version of mobile barcode software ScanLife

Scanbuy has seen some very successful implementations of it’s 2d barcode reading software recently. The ScanLife application has been used for transport, publication and operators – but always aimed at consumers. Now Scanbuy has announced that it is releasing an enterprise version of the application.

ScanLife for enterprise:

When the ScanLife app is loaded onto a mobile device, that device can be used to scan and take action on 2d barcodes. The enterprise version of ScanLife would be geared towards business-use, and any business that invests in it will get a “custom” version of app. What they mean by custom is that each companies version of the app would be designed to only read barcodes issued by that company. This is a security measure so that no one is able to read the codes belonging to a different company.

How can businesses use ScanLife?

Lots of ways!

•    The app can scan the worldwide standard UPC barcode, along with the most popular 2d codes (EZcode, QR Code and DataMatrix)
•    The app is available for all the major mobile OS platforms, from Java to Android. As such, most company employees will already own devices that can run it
•    When scanning a product, the app can display its point of origin along with details of how it got here. That information can be automatically logged, to quickly create a full inventory
•    The codes can be used to order goods from a catalog, display repair/maintenance history or redeem coupons
•    Companies that might need to generate a huge number of secure barcodes can access a Scanbuy API to help them with that

Jonathan Bulkeley, Chief Executive Officer of Scanbuy: “Our mobile software is already compatible with millions of consumer phones, so this solution gives companies an easy and relatively inexpensive way of accessing data from the field. We will continue to focus on our ScanLife platform and consumer application, but this is a nice addition to our product offering.”

What we think?

I can’t view it as coincidence that this release has come after Scanbuy has had some face-time with DuPont. DuPont has a ridiculously large portfolio of services, and among them is commercial and industrial packaging. This was a real opportunity for Scanbuy to see how enterprise packaging works – not the packaging you see on grocery store shelves, but the kind of packaging involved in the mass transport of goods worldwide. And, of course, for this software to be worth using for any company it requires that 2d barcodes be widely used an inventory tool. And that requires the support of large-scale printing and packaging companies to place those codes.