Comments on: Will DataBar Kill The Self-Checkout Produce, Coupon Nightmare? http://storefrontbacktalk.com/supply-chain/will-databar-kill-the-self-checkout-produce-coupon-nightmare/ Techniques, Tools and Tirades about Retail Technology and E-Commerce Thu, 24 May 2012 17:32:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Rob Martell http://storefrontbacktalk.com/supply-chain/will-databar-kill-the-self-checkout-produce-coupon-nightmare/comment-page-1/#comment-59452 Rob Martell Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:23:56 +0000 http://www.storefrontbacktalk.com/?p=2777#comment-59452 It takes me so long to get through a grocery check-out now, I am not hoping for any more 'Technology' to make it worse! Grins, R It takes me so long to get through a grocery check-out now, I am not hoping for any more ‘Technology’ to make it worse!
Grins,
R

]]> By: Glyn Fogell http://storefrontbacktalk.com/supply-chain/will-databar-kill-the-self-checkout-produce-coupon-nightmare/comment-page-1/#comment-59414 Glyn Fogell Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:02:38 +0000 http://www.storefrontbacktalk.com/?p=2777#comment-59414 We see DataBar as a major step forward in the Fresh departments, particularly because of the ability to manage and validate sell-by dates at time of sale. Our major hurdle right now is the POS software but we should have the new version available in time for testing and roll-out before "sunrise". Only a smallish number of hand scanners will have to be replaced as even our oldest omnidirectional ones can be given a new firmaware version to handle DataBar; we're busy piloting that right now. On the coupon comment from Bill: I motivated a local GS1 standard change for coupons which has been adopted so that we can use a coupon as a linked promotional item. It has an effective date and an end date for the promotion, has no intrinsic face value and only works when the promoted item is in the same "basket". Redemption is handled electronically based on scanned coupons and the paper need not be retained or handled by a clearing bureau - the supplier's stock account is debited for redemptions at the end of the promotion. Yes, the voucher could be re-used, but only to buy more of the promoted product. (You did want to boost sales of the line, didn't you?). Try it - you might like it! We see DataBar as a major step forward in the Fresh departments, particularly because of the ability to manage and validate sell-by dates at time of sale. Our major hurdle right now is the POS software but we should have the new version available in time for testing and roll-out before “sunrise”. Only a smallish number of hand scanners will have to be replaced as even our oldest omnidirectional ones can be given a new firmaware version to handle DataBar; we’re busy piloting that right now.

On the coupon comment from Bill: I motivated a local GS1 standard change for coupons which has been adopted so that we can use a coupon as a linked promotional item. It has an effective date and an end date for the promotion, has no intrinsic face value and only works when the promoted item is in the same “basket”. Redemption is handled electronically based on scanned coupons and the paper need not be retained or handled by a clearing bureau – the supplier’s stock account is debited for redemptions at the end of the promotion. Yes, the voucher could be re-used, but only to buy more of the promoted product. (You did want to boost sales of the line, didn’t you?).

Try it – you might like it!

]]> By: Bill Bittner http://storefrontbacktalk.com/supply-chain/will-databar-kill-the-self-checkout-produce-coupon-nightmare/comment-page-1/#comment-59341 Bill Bittner Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:51:03 +0000 http://www.storefrontbacktalk.com/?p=2777#comment-59341 The DataBar (formerly RSS, Reduced Space Symbology) has been talked about for years. While scanners were the initial hurdle, the article rightly indicates that the software to handle the additional data has been the real challenge. POS Logs, Coupon Validation Routines, and cashier training must all change. While DataBar is necessary, it is not sufficient to address many of the issues identified in this article. Coupon acceptance at self checkout is as much a fraud issue as it is merely accepting outdated coupons. DataBar does nothing to ensure that the barcode being presented represents a legitimate offer from the manufacturer. This is normally done by the cashier looking at the printed coupon to make sure it was not produced on someone’s home computer. This is exactly the same issue with Internet coupons. DataBar represents a completely different concept of data presentation than RFID. DataBar presents the data attributes directly in the barcode. RFID uses a serial number to reference data attributes of an object. Implementing DataBar is not an intermediate step for getting to serial number based reference. DataBar will address the issues associated with PLU numbers and will enable more specific coding of variable weight packages. This will greatly help the management of fresh processes and be a great benefit to retailers who do in-store processing. These benefits will be tied to new applications that track both production and POS activity to monitor replenishment and identify unsold packages. This will help considerably with implementation of markdowns, rework planning, and shrink identification. All in all, DataBar is just one more enhancement to “analog based” interfaces such as printed paper coupons. The ultimate answer will be purely digital discounts verified online as they are presented to the retailer. The DataBar (formerly RSS, Reduced Space Symbology) has been talked about for years. While scanners were the initial hurdle, the article rightly indicates that the software to handle the additional data has been the real challenge. POS Logs, Coupon Validation Routines, and cashier training must all change.

While DataBar is necessary, it is not sufficient to address many of the issues identified in this article. Coupon acceptance at self checkout is as much a fraud issue as it is merely accepting outdated coupons. DataBar does nothing to ensure that the barcode being presented represents a legitimate offer from the manufacturer. This is normally done by the cashier looking at the printed coupon to make sure it was not produced on someone’s home computer. This is exactly the same issue with Internet coupons. DataBar represents a completely different concept of data presentation than RFID. DataBar presents the data attributes directly in the barcode. RFID uses a serial number to reference data attributes of an object. Implementing DataBar is not an intermediate step for getting to serial number based reference.

DataBar will address the issues associated with PLU numbers and will enable more specific coding of variable weight packages. This will greatly help the management of fresh processes and be a great benefit to retailers who do in-store processing. These benefits will be tied to new applications that track both production and POS activity to monitor replenishment and identify unsold packages. This will help considerably with implementation of markdowns, rework planning, and shrink identification.

All in all, DataBar is just one more enhancement to “analog based” interfaces such as printed paper coupons. The ultimate answer will be purely digital discounts verified online as they are presented to the retailer.

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