MUMBAI: The increasing numbers of trade partners within supply chains that usually tend to be geographically disconnected is heightening the requirement for enhanced information flow to accompany individual items during transit.
This need for improved data density capability is compelling verticals to naturally progress from one-dimensional (1D) barcode scanners to two-dimensional (2D) scanners, since they are inherently portable and have data-dense symbologies.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan on Migration of 1D to 2D Barcode Scanners Market in North America, reveals that the market expects to earn revenues of $968.2 million in 2012.
"Manufacturing segments requiring high levels of visibility into individual parts tracking and automated assembly processes expect to be the largest end-user segment of 2D barcodes," notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Priyanka Gouthaman. "Products involving stringent documentation requirements throughout their supply chain movement also adopt data-dense 2D symbologies."
A strong case in point is the regulations-bound pharmaceutical market, which has numerous electronic pedigrees and other documentation requirements from the point of manufacturing to the final point of dispensing.
2D barcodes' obvious benefits such as omni-directional scanning and increased data capacity notwithstanding, market participants are challenged by the popularity of laser scanners. The availability of a wide value-added reseller (VAR) network for linear 1D scanners is yet another obstacle in the path of 1D to 2D migration.
2D manufacturers are relying heavily on their technologies' smaller label space requirements, which considerably narrow the difference in printing costs between 1D and 2D barcode scanners. However, 2D technology is costlier in terms of the decoding and scanning capabilities. Its imagers and vision systems continue to be high priced due to the need for illumination as well as optical and decoding components.
Considering these cost issues, manufacturers have to adopt a phased approach in targeting potential end users. The migration to 2D barcodes will also depend on the constantly changing dynamics within the automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) market, which underlines the need for 2D barcode manufacturers to remain flexible with their product strategies and technology focus.
"The adoption rates between vertical and application markets are likely to vary depending on information needs and form factor challenges," notes Gouthaman. "The market expects to witness a considerable level of convergence and co-existence in the short and medium term between 1D and 2D barcode applications depending on the application in focus."
Despite this likely co-existence, the technologies' adoption volumes will differ across applications and time periods depending on the individual market maturity levels.
The Migration of 1D to 2D Barcode Scanners Market in North America is part of the AutoID & Security Growth Partnership Services, which also includes research in the following markets: North American RFID Markets for Automotive, Aerospace & Industrial Manufacturing, World Retail RFID Markets - A Retailer Perspective, World RFID in Retail and Supply Chain Applications - A Supplier Perspective, World RFID in Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Applications, World RFID Middleware Markets and World RFID Based Applications Markets.
CIOL Bureau