Cut handwritten counts and double entry
A scan replaces a written tally and a later spreadsheet upload. Count, location, and timestamp land directly on the item record. Nobody retypes anything.
Feature
Barcode scanning
Scan an item, confirm a quantity, and update the record from the floor. Order3 reads UPC, EAN, Code 128, Code 39, QR, and GS1 DataMatrix from an iOS or Android camera, plus Bluetooth handheld scanners that act as keyboards.
What you get
Three outcomes operators can see
Speed up receiving and picking
Scan a PO, scan the carton, confirm the quantity. The app walks the operator to the next line. No trips back to a desktop. Picks work the same way in reverse.
Build a clean movement history at the source
Every scan is an audit-ready event: who, what, where, when. Variance reports and cycle counts get easier when history is captured at the moment work happens.
How it works
From action to record
- 01
Scan the item or shelf
Point the camera or handheld at a barcode. Order3 looks up the item or location and opens the action sheet for what you're doing.
- 02
Choose receive, move, count, or pick
Pick the action. The app prompts only for the fields that matter for that workflow. The screen stays short.
- 03
Confirm quantity
Type or scan a quantity. Serialized items capture each unit. Lots capture the lot and expiration.
- 04
Sync the record instantly
The scan writes to the item ledger. On-hand counts, location balances, and movement history update across the workspace in real time.
How it works
How barcode scanning works
Order3 reads standard 1D and 2D formats from a phone camera or a connected handheld. UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-13, EAN-8, Code 128, Code 39, QR, Data Matrix, and GS1 DataMatrix all live out of the box. When a barcode is recognized, the app finds the matching item or location and opens the right action: receiving, counting, moving, picking. Operators don't search; the scan is the search. Scan events write through to the same ledger the web app reads, so on-hand counts stay consistent across surfaces. When a scan doesn't match a known item, the app offers to create or merge a record rather than failing silently.
In your day
Where it fits in your day
Warehouse teams scan to receive, move stock between bins, run cycle counts, and pick orders without a clipboard. Retail teams scan store stock, check the backroom, process transfers between stores. Medical and dental practices scan supplies and lot-sensitive items at the point of use, which keeps lot and expiration records honest. Field service technicians scan parts on and off trucks. Each of these is a different shape of the same loop: scan the item, scan the location, confirm the quantity, move on. The detail captured per scan flexes by use case, but the muscle memory is the same.
Controls
What you keep in control
Permissions decide who can scan what. Counters can record counts but not adjust on-hand totals. Managers approve variance after a count. Locations can be locked so only authorized users move stock in or out. Every scan records the user, device, item, location, action, and timestamp. Those records appear in the activity log alongside agent drafts and approvals. If a scan is wrong, the correction is also recorded. You can see what changed and why, instead of overwriting the original event and losing the trail.
Barcode scanning FAQ
What barcode formats does Order3 read?
Order3 reads the common 1D formats (UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-13, EAN-8, Code 128, Code 39) and the common 2D formats including QR, Data Matrix, and GS1 DataMatrix. The mobile app uses the device camera by default and works with Bluetooth and lightning-connected handheld scanners that act as keyboards. Printing your own labels for bins or trays? Code 128 and QR are the easiest to work with. Tell us if you need a less common format in your environment.
Do I need a separate scanner?
No. The default workflow uses the camera on a phone or tablet, which is enough for most receiving, counting, and picking work in a small or mid-sized operation. Teams that scan thousands of items per shift usually pair the app with a Bluetooth handheld or a sled scanner. Order3 treats those as keyboard input, so the workflow is identical. You can mix devices on one team. A manager scanning from a phone and a stocker using a Bluetooth scanner both write to the same records.
Does it work without internet?
Limited offline scanning is on the roadmap. Today, scans require a network connection to reach the item ledger. In practice this is rarely a blocker because phones fall back to cellular when warehouse Wi-Fi drops. If your environment regularly has zero connectivity (remote jobsites, refrigerated rooms, basements) tell us before signing on so we can scope what offline support looks like for your workflows. We would rather set the expectation honestly than promise full offline parity on day one.
What if an item does not have a barcode?
Generate and print barcode or QR labels from Order3 for items, bins, trays, and carts. Many SMB operators label locations more aggressively than items, because location labels turn a cluttered shelf into a structured workflow. For one-of-one inventory like consigned antiques or unique fixtures, the system supports per-unit serialized labels with photos and notes attached. The point of scanning is to remove typing, not to require a UPC for everything you own.
Can scanning replace a full physical inventory?
It can replace most of one. Most teams move from an annual physical count to a rolling cycle count once scanning is in place, because scans capture movement as it happens and cycle counts surface drift early. A full physical inventory still has a role at year-end for finance and for first-time imports. The guide on cycle counting versus physical inventory walks through how to choose a count cadence per item class. High-value or high-velocity items deserve more frequent attention.
Try Barcode scanning in Order3.
Start with one recurring inventory problem. Add the SKUs, locations, and counts that matter first, then bring in expert help when the rollout gets complex.