Barcodes can significantly enhance inventory management, offering a reliable method for tracking movements and reducing errors. Katana integrates barcode scanning into its processes, supporting stocktakes, receiving items, and material consumption. Barcode scanning makes finding and identifying item variants and batch numbers less error-prone and more efficient.
This guide explains how to enable barcode functionality, manage item and batch barcodes, and utilize barcode scanning within various workflows, streamlining operations and increasing accuracy.
Note: Barcode scanning is only available on Standard and higher plans.
If you have items or batch numbers without physical barcode labels and you want to use barcode scanning, you'll first need to print the barcode labels.
Barcode scanning supports the following workflows:
Performing a stocktake with a barcode scanner (includes batch tracking support)
Receiving with barcodes (includes batch tracking support)
Enabling barcodes for items
Barcode functionality can be turned on by heading to Settings screen > Barcodes and switching the toggle button on for whichever barcode(s) you want to use.
Settings screen with the Barcodes area selected
Read more about enabling barcodes.
Barcodes for items and batches can be generated automatically or entered manually.
Read more about generating barcodes.
Working with barcodes
Barcodes are presented via machine-readable symbols that when scanned allow Katana to find a matching item or batch number.
In order to add a physical label with a barcode to an inventory item, a barcode with a selected barcode standard has to be printed.
In Katana, there are options to store multiple barcode numbers for each Item.
Learn more about the different types of barcodes.
Scanning barcodes
To begin scanning barcodes, a scanner needs to be connected to a device running the Katana app. In Katana, scanning mode needs to be active, or a barcode field or filter needs to be selected. Once you're ready, point the scanner at a barcode and pull the trigger to read the barcode number.
Learn more about scanning barcodes.
More information regarding barcodes
Each internal barcode is associated with only a single item variant. Multiple items or variants cannot be included in the same barcode.
Each internal barcode number must be unique and not an SKU. There is a duplicate check for internal and batch barcodes built into Katana preventing repeated numbers from being saved.
Item barcodes are listed in the Items screen while in the Stock screen you can find batch barcodes under the Batches tab.