Setting Up Barcode Scanning at Your Till
How to configure and use barcode scanning in AskBiz POS — connecting a scanner, assigning barcodes to products, and speeding up the checkout process.
Key Takeaways
- Any USB or Bluetooth HID barcode scanner works with AskBiz POS without additional drivers.
- Products must have a barcode assigned in the catalogue before scanning will find them.
- The till can also generate and print barcodes for products that don't have manufacturer-printed codes.
Compatible scanners
AskBiz POS works with any USB or Bluetooth barcode scanner that uses HID (Human Interface Device) mode — which covers the vast majority of retail scanners. The scanner acts like a keyboard: when it reads a barcode, it types the code into the active field. No drivers or special software are required. Plug in a USB scanner and it works immediately. For Bluetooth scanners, pair with the device running AskBiz the same way you'd pair any Bluetooth accessory. Supported barcode formats include EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, Code 128, Code 39, and QR codes.
Assigning barcodes to products
Go to Operations > Retail > Products and open a product. Scroll to the Barcode field. Either type the barcode number manually or click the field and scan the product's physical barcode — the scanner populates the field instantly. Click Save. Repeat for every product. For products without a printed barcode (e.g. loose items, own-brand products), click Generate Barcode. AskBiz creates a unique Code 128 barcode that you can print on a label and stick to the product or shelf.
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Start for free →Scanning at the till
Open the till (POS > Open till). The product search bar is active by default. Scan a product barcode and AskBiz instantly finds and adds it to the current transaction. Scan the same barcode again to add another unit, or use the quantity field to type a number before scanning. If a barcode isn't found, the till shows a 'Product not found' message — this means the product either doesn't exist in the catalogue or doesn't have that barcode assigned. Check the product record and add the barcode.
Scanning for stock takes and receiving
Barcode scanning isn't just for the till. During a stock take, use the scanner to scan items one by one — AskBiz increments the count for each scan. During purchase order receiving, scan inbound items to confirm receipt rather than manually entering quantities. This speeds up the receiving process significantly and reduces data entry errors. Make sure the scanning field (Counted Quantity or Received Quantity) is active before scanning, otherwise the scan will go to the wrong field.
Troubleshooting
If scanning adds items to a search bar rather than the product list, the wrong field is active — click directly on the product search area in the till. If scanning produces garbled characters, the scanner's output format may not match your keyboard locale — check the scanner's manual for locale settings and adjust to match your device's keyboard layout (typically UK English). If a scan works intermittently, check the scanner's battery level or USB connection.