Improve the app’s scanning performance: optimize user experiencesWhilst customers had a satisfactory experience placing orders through the EM app, they found the scanning process quite slow – at times taking several seconds to scan a single barcode. This delay in fulfilling orders resulted in a poor user experience for customers. As a result, customers found it quicker to reorder over the phone, or at an Elektro-Material branch, especially for large orders.Moreover, some products only had serial numbers, which could not be captured by the open-source scanning component of the EM app. These performance issues negatively impacted the customer’s purchase experience and reduced the number of orders originating through the app.Elektro-Material wanted to change this and embarked on a digital commerce initiative to improve the app’s performance and increase customer stickiness.

Improve performance by minimizing delivery errorsLa Poste’s mail and parcel carriers relied on low-end smartphones using an Android application, integrated with open-source barcode scanning software for proof of delivery, track and trace, and other workflows. Scanning speed and precision is essential to help drivers complete their routes efficiently, and any scanning errors can lead to mail or parcels mistakenly delivered to the wrong address, costing La Poste time, money, and reputation. La Poste wanted to compare the performance of smartphones using open source scanning against those using proprietary software across a wide variety of devices, under a range of challenging real‑world conditions.

Colruyt wanted to invest in its digital future by creating ‘informed and connected store associates,’ and evolve into a future-ready technology platform. They decided to replace the shared dedicated scanning devices with personal consumer devices that would be easy for store staff to operate and always stay connected. The company explored smartphones with fast, camera-based scanning that supported processes used in existing dedicated devices.To support their plan of providing employees with a smartphone-based data capture solution, Colruyt wanted a partner that:Offered superior software-based barcode scanning. Shared their vision for a platform to support future innovation. Was easy to integrate with its suite of apps, and supported diverse frameworks and mobile architectures.

Cardinal Health’s pharmacy distribution division caters to the needs of hospitals and pharmacies, enabling online ordering via their Order Express portal for various types of pharmacy products (including prescription and over-the-counter medications). Cardinal Health used to provide their pharmacy customers with an embedded laser or LED scan engine device, to help facilitate and ease the pharmacy product ordering process, through the decoding of a wide range of barcodes. Cardinal tried leasing purpose-built scanner hardware to their customers but then decided to test a more cost-efficient option with consumer device apps. They tested native scanning functionality on consumer devices and found those to be severely lacking in speed and overall scan performance. 

NACEX relies on technology to enhance the quality of service to its franchisees and customers.The company wanted to improve scan speeds and the type of information they could record for faster delivery and improved customer service. Superfast scanning was critical as NACEX’s last-mile drivers scanned over five million barcodes every month.They also needed to maintain proof of delivery records for each delivery. This included photographing the parcel and the recipient’s signature, or scanning it.