Which phone suits stock counting

You do not need special, pricey equipment for stock counting: an ordinary mid-range phone is usually enough. But some features directly affect how fast codes are read, while others get a lot of attention in adverts and barely matter in counting. Below: what to look at, what not to overspend on and how to choose between a phone and a dedicated terminal.

What matters most: the camera

For a counting phone the camera matters more than anything else:

• Autofocus. To read codes the camera must focus quickly at close range, ten to fifteen centimetres. If focus is slow, every scan takes a second or two longer, and across thousands of positions that is hours.
• The main camera. The main camera reads the code, so eight to twelve megapixels are plenty; a hundred-megapixel camera adds nothing for counting.
• The torch. Useful for dark racks and bottom shelves.
• Close focus. Needed for small codes and tiny labels, but quality varies by model, so testing is a must. The case matters too: check that its cut-out for the camera and torch does not interfere with reading.

Screen, battery and memory

A screen of about six inches is best: the phone fits the hand and the list is easy to read. It needs enough brightness, since a warehouse has bright spots by the windows as well as shade. A battery of four to five thousand mAh spares you constant hunting for a charger during a shift. Wi-Fi helps as well: a phone joined to the warehouse network sends results quickly, and where mobile data is poor Wi-Fi is far more reliable.

On memory: three to four gigabytes of RAM and thirty-two to sixty-four gigabytes of storage are usually enough. Text entries take little room; photographs take a lot. Check the software's requirements in advance. One more point: the system version should be supported by the software and still receive security updates, and a phone that has not been updated for years is a weak spot for security.

Durability

A warehouse is dusty, phones get dropped and sometimes meet moisture. So:

• a protective case and a screen film are the cheapest insurance;
• dust and water protection (IP67, IP68) is good but not essential;
• if you must work in gloves, test beforehand that the screen responds through them;
• a wrist strap or a neck lanyard keeps the phone off the floor;
• give everyone the same model: training, instructions and chargers are then common, and a spare phone suits any counter.

Not everything has to be new: a used phone in good condition with a healthy battery will do, as long as you test its camera and battery first. Spend on the camera, battery and toughness rather than a powerful processor. Take about ten to fifteen percent more phones than counters: someone's phone will break or run flat.

A phone or a dedicated terminal

A data collection terminal has a built-in scanner, buttons and a rugged case, and often a swappable battery. It is fast and tough but costly, and made for this job alone. A phone is cheaper, familiar to everyone and useful for other things, but scans more slowly and has a more fragile body.

The rule of choice is simple. If you count a few times a year, a phone (or a rental) is enough. If you scan thousands of units daily, a terminal pays for itself. The middle road is a Bluetooth scanner paired with a phone: the phone provides the screen and connection, the scanner the speed. Think before using personal phones too: after the count the data stays on the employee's device and leaves with them.

A testing checklist

Before spending money, borrow two or three models for a day and test them on your own labels:

1. Pick the ten hardest labels: small, glossy, curved, creased, long.
2. Read each in bright and dim light and note roughly how long it took.
3. Work for an hour in counting mode and note how many percent the battery lost.
4. Try the software in offline mode.
5. Judge working in gloves and with one hand: does the device tire the arm?
6. Put the results in a table and choose by average speed.

Conclusion

Choose a counting phone by the task, not by a spec list: good autofocus, enough battery, sturdy protection and the same model for everyone. If you would rather not deal with devices, charging and training staff, order a count from StockCheck: the team runs it itself and hands over the result as Excel or PDF.