Scanning Overview
Scanning is at the heart of Beam. Whether you are receiving goods, picking orders, performing stock takes, or simply looking up an item, scanning provides the fastest and most reliable way to interact with your inventory. Beam supports multiple scanning technologies so you can choose the method that best fits your workflow and hardware.
Scanning Methods
Barcode Scanning
Beam supports barcode scanning through two input modes. USB or Bluetooth HID barcode scanners connect to your device and act as a keyboard input simply scan a barcode and the value is sent directly into Beam. Camera-based barcode scanning uses your device's built-in camera to read barcodes in real time, which is ideal for mobile devices without a dedicated scanner.
RFID Scanning
RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) allows you to read tags at a distance and in bulk. Beam supports handheld RFID readers such as the Chainway C5, as well as fixed RFID readers from manufacturers like Impinj and Nordic ID. Fixed readers can be mounted at doorways or conveyor belts for automated scanning workflows.
QR Code Scanning
QR codes can be scanned using your device's camera. QR codes can store more data than traditional barcodes and are easy to generate within Beam's label printing system.
NFC Scanning
NFC (Near Field Communication) scanning works by tapping your mobile device against an NFC tag. This method is convenient for quick lookups and is supported on most modern smartphones.
What Happens When You Scan
The result of a scan depends on the context which page you are on when you scan. Beam intelligently routes the scanned value to the appropriate action.
| Context (Current Page) | Scan Result |
|---|---|
| Items page | Navigates directly to the matching item detail page. |
| Order picking | Adds the scanned item to the pick buffer for the current order. |
| Stock take | Records the scanned item as counted in the active stock take session. |
| Location page | Navigates to the scanned location or shows the item in the context of that location. |
| Action form | Links the scanned item to the action being performed. |
Scan Feedback
Beam provides multi-sensory feedback every time a scan is processed, so you always know whether a scan was successful.
- Visual confirmation a brief on-screen indicator shows the scan result (success or error).
- Audio beep a configurable sound plays on successful scans. You can adjust or mute the beep in your settings.
- Haptic vibration on supported mobile devices, a vibration confirms the scan.
- Error messages if the scan fails or no match is found, a clear error message is displayed with guidance on what to check.
The Scan Button
Beam provides a dedicated scan button that gives you quick access to the camera-based scanner from anywhere in the application.
- On mobile devices, the scan button is located at the center of the bottom navigation bar for easy thumb access.
- On desktop, the scan button is available in the sidebar navigation.