I need INVENTORY MANAGEMENT advise. Barcode scanner? RFID? - GoFuckYourself.com

mkx · 01-02-2011, 09:15 PM

I know this is an adult forum so I'll just lie and say I am selling fast moving dildos and fleshlights online.

We are receiving and shipping 50-100 small packages daily. Currently all our inventory is done by hand and entered into a custom online database. I am sick of tired of having to do inventory by hand and things are a mess = products on display, with no part numbers, different part numbers, opened and returned products, etc.

I am trying to brainstorm a good inventory management system. Since it's 2011 and I am starting from fresh and pretty tech savy and have a programmer on my team, I was considering of using RFID however we only have about 200 part number or so that we inventory so I don't think RFID would be really practical at the moment. My next bet would be a barcode scanner.

I guess I am looking for a recommendation on a barcode scanner that can connect to the web and basically add and subtract inventory to our custom php / phpmyadmin script/db and be able to print basic packing lists and possibly have a built in barcode printer as well so that when a new item comes in we can scan the manufactures barcode and print out a copy of it to past on the shelf where that product will be located.

What are some of the top easy to use barcode scanners? Should I hire a local inventory management consultant? Would I be able to program it myself with basic technical knowledge?

AzteK · 01-02-2011, 09:56 PM

Sounds like your keeping busy. I don't do inventory management but don't you think you should go with a professional solution if you're serious about this? How many different items do you have?

georgeyw · 01-02-2011, 10:07 PM

If you are receiving orders online - why not have the website update when an order is procesed? Naturally that doesn't cover updating new inventory but that will always be a labour intensive job - get yourself a traineeeeeeeeeeeee.

mkx · 01-02-2011, 10:29 PM

About 200 different items, website backend is good, just need a better way of doing inventory other than hand, so need to know a good handheld barcode scanner since I know nothing about them

BJ · 01-02-2011, 11:57 PM

this is what im using now, we currently stock just over 200 products in different sizes and flavors and this keeps track of all of that.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...4525&CatId=298

I also use it with quickbooks, so I just manually adjust the inventory in quickbooks once a day, takes 5 minutes

01-02-2011, 09:15 PM	#1
mkx Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 4,001	I need INVENTORY MANAGEMENT advise. Barcode scanner? RFID? I know this is an adult forum so I'll just lie and say I am selling fast moving dildos and fleshlights online. We are receiving and shipping 50-100 small packages daily. Currently all our inventory is done by hand and entered into a custom online database. I am sick of tired of having to do inventory by hand and things are a mess = products on display, with no part numbers, different part numbers, opened and returned products, etc. I am trying to brainstorm a good inventory management system. Since it's 2011 and I am starting from fresh and pretty tech savy and have a programmer on my team, I was considering of using RFID however we only have about 200 part number or so that we inventory so I don't think RFID would be really practical at the moment. My next bet would be a barcode scanner. I guess I am looking for a recommendation on a barcode scanner that can connect to the web and basically add and subtract inventory to our custom php / phpmyadmin script/db and be able to print basic packing lists and possibly have a built in barcode printer as well so that when a new item comes in we can scan the manufactures barcode and print out a copy of it to past on the shelf where that product will be located. What are some of the top easy to use barcode scanners? Should I hire a local inventory management consultant? Would I be able to program it myself with basic technical knowledge?

01-02-2011, 09:56 PM	#2
AzteK Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Northern Cali, USA Posts: 3,439	Sounds like your keeping busy. I don't do inventory management but don't you think you should go with a professional solution if you're serious about this? How many different items do you have?

01-02-2011, 10:07 PM	#3
georgeyw 58008 53773 Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 9,864	If you are receiving orders online - why not have the website update when an order is procesed? Naturally that doesn't cover updating new inventory but that will always be a labour intensive job - get yourself a traineeeeeeeeeeeee.

01-02-2011, 10:29 PM	#4
mkx Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 4,001	About 200 different items, website backend is good, just need a better way of doing inventory other than hand, so need to know a good handheld barcode scanner since I know nothing about them

01-02-2011, 11:57 PM	#5
BJ Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: asia Posts: 5,590	this is what im using now, we currently stock just over 200 products in different sizes and flavors and this keeps track of all of that. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...4525&CatId=298 I also use it with quickbooks, so I just manually adjust the inventory in quickbooks once a day, takes 5 minutes