Scanning Products with Your Camera

AskBiz POS uses your device's built-in camera to read barcodes and QR codes in real time. When you open the sale screen and tap the Scan button (or press S on a keyboard), the camera activates and looks for a recognisable code.

Supported formats include EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, Code 128, Code 39, ITF, and QR codes. Most retail products already carry one of these — you just need to link the code to a product in your inventory.

There are two ways to link a barcode:

• During product creation — when adding a product in /pos/inventory, tap the barcode field and scan the item. The code is saved automatically.
• On first scan — if you scan a barcode that is not yet linked, AskBiz shows a prompt asking you to select or create the matching product. This is the fastest way to build your catalogue if you have physical stock to hand.

Once linked, scanning the same barcode instantly adds the product to the current sale basket.

• Hold the barcode 10–20 cm from the camera and keep it steady for a second
• Make sure the barcode area is well lit — the camera flash can be enabled in POS settings if your environment is dim
• Clean any dust or moisture from the barcode label
• For curved surfaces (bottles, tubes), angle the product so the barcode is as flat as possible toward the camera
• If you are using a tablet on a stand, position the stand so products can be held in front of the camera comfortably

If you prefer a dedicated barcode scanner, AskBiz POS supports any HID-compatible USB or Bluetooth scanner. These scanners type the barcode number into the active field, so they work without any driver installation.

Plug in or pair your scanner, make sure the POS sale screen is in focus, and scan — the product will be added to the basket just as if you had used the camera. External scanners are faster and more reliable for high-volume environments.