WMS App Android Intents
We have to scan UDI barcodes for certain products. A UDI barcode is a type of barcode where data is embedded into the barcode in a specific format; ie a single barcode can contain constant static information like a product code, and variable information like lot and expiry number.
Some barcode scanners, such as Android based Zebra scanners, can parse this UDI information and seperate out the data. It can then extract and send the information in a particular order, ie: product code + expiry + lot number. The scanners can do this just as simple sequence of keystroke output; ie as if it was typing directly into the WMS app, without really knowing what the app is doing. You sequence a series of outputs and keystrokes (enter, tab etc.).
The Zebra barcode scanners can also hook into Android app's ‘intents’ to deliver particular types of data to an app. There are some instances in the app where you want to scan a product barcode, other instances you might be scanning ONLY the expiry date or lot number. Apps can signal to the Zebra scanner their capabilities and activities, and the Zebra scanner can then send only the data requested. Ie: if you are inputting the expiry field, the scanner can send ONLY the expiry number.
However, the Cin7 WMS app does not seem to have a very comprehensive amount of intents declared in the app manifest. So it is not possible to build a profile for a Zebra scanner to hook into the WMS app more intelligently beyond simple keystroke output.
It would be good to have this capability.
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Yeah, found that out very early on. Basically, you want to use something like GS1 DataMatrix, which contains various GS1 Application Identifiers rather than having various individual barcodes for each specific item and having to scan them into each text field in the WMS individually.
EG - 1 barcode contains:
The thing is, the UDI barcodes are actually printed by the manufacturer and not labelled by us. It will be a requirement going forward for these barcodes to be on all such medical devices, and we want to avoid duplication of effort since these barcodes will almost always be present.
Chris, does the Cin7 Core WMS app support GS1? I was told only the POS app supports GS1.
We have gone down the rabbit hole of creating custom scanning labels that has SKU / Batch / Expiry in separate QR codes.
Are you telling me if I encode as GS1 datamatrix and use a third party app from Zebra or similar it will feed all that data correctly in the Cin7 Core WMS app?
Hi James,
GS1 is an international standard for barcodes. They're just unique numbers, where they issue out GTIN numbers, so that they belong to your product only, so that retail stores who stock various products from manufacturers don't end up using the same barcode numbers.
In terms of formats, its usually in the EAN or UPC for products and ITF for cartons.
So yes, Cin7 Core WMS works with GS1 barcodes (when using the camera on the phone or a seperate blutooth scanner), but the platform itself does not support barcodes that contain multiple Product Identifiers in a single barcode such as:
Basically, you need to have seperate barcodes for Application Identifiers (like batch, expiry, etc)
I don't think Cin7 is the right solution for the OP as it sounds like its related to medical / medicines, which have those very small format barcodes that contains various AI data in a single barcode
Thanks Chris. We are using GS1 formatting for another application which can separate the product identifiers, so understand the use case. I misinterpreted your original response to mean that you had a working solution for using GS1 barcodes to successfully extract the relevant identifier at the relevant moment in the Cin7 WMS app.
So agree with Lachlan that it would be a great feature to introduce
Yeah noted, nah I don't have a work around solution. Cin7s future job that one :P
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