| BAR
CODING INDUSTRY IN CHENNAI
C Albert Vinod Samuel, Regional Manager, Automatic Data
Capture Division, Datamatics Information Technology, speaks
to www.chennaibest.com on the Bar Coding industry in the
city today.
Could you tell us something about the technology
of bar coding? How does it work?
 It
is a facilitating technology and not a controlling technology. Bar
coding is based on Auto Data Capturing technology. The technology
is based on reflective optics. The black and white lines absorb
and reflect light rays, enabling the identification of a product.
To utilize this technology, two pieces of equipment are needed -
the Bar Code scanner and the printer.
When and where was bar coding first used in
the country?
It started off in the really big libraries like I.I.T. (Indian
Institute of Technology), in the beginning of the 90's. Then
came the Departmental Stores like Food World, Nilgiris. Next
in line were the manufacturing industries - auto ancillaries. Yeah!
These were the early starters. Today, the hottest area for the bar
coding industry is logistics. The industry is fifteen years old.
How effective is bar coding as a technology
for packaging here?
Packaging in India is different from that in the West. Bar coding
finds better applications there. Retail selling is standardised
abroad, unlike India. It is much easier to find ample applications
for bar coding abroad.
How effective is bar coding in checking pilferage,
pirating of products and imitation of products?
Bar code establishes the identity of a product. It cannot in any
way prevent piracy or imitation. It is for the manufacturer to take
care of this. Yes! Indirectly there is pilferage. Anyone who masters
the technology can do duplication easily. It is only the manufacturer
who has to be vigilant.
Any other uses of the
bar coding technique in Chennai?
Apart from its extensive use in the retail market, it is effectively
used in libraries and it is now emerging as an effective solution
for crowd management. It drastically lessens data entry work.
What is the level of awareness about the bar
coding technique in Chennai?
Quite high.
Are there any laws for its implementation?
If so, who is officially responsible for its working?
 Yes!
The EAN (European Article Number) based in Delhi. EAN is
responsible for allotting an identity to a product. Each product
is assigned a number that becomes its identity. This is converted
into a Bar code. Recently the government came out with a law for
making bar coding mandatory for exporters. Right now we do not have
any officials in Chennai for that.
If a storeowner wanted to install a bar coding
system in his store, how much would it cost him approximately?
The Bar code printer would cost Rs 1 lakh per unit and the barcode
scanner ranges from Rs 15,000/- to Rs 50,000/-. The running costs
would come to 15 paise per label.
How is the Chennai bar coding industry as
compared to other metros?
On par with the other metros. We do have some big players here.
Chennai is an important destination for this technology.
Major Clients?
Bajaj, at an all India Level. In Chennai, our major clients
are Life Style, TVS, Hindustan Motors, Ford and Birla
Group..
Major players?
Major players at the international level are Symbol Intermac,
PSC (for bar code scanners) and Zebra, Intermac and Datamax
(for bar code printers). In Chennai we have Intellicon and
Bar code India as major players.
What kind of growth do you foresee for the
bar coding market in Chennai?
Not much in the next two years. IT needed for the industry, will
need some more time to fructify. Also, the cycle period to have
business decisions in this technology is very high. It is never
less than a year.
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