Beam integrates with a range of physical devices to extend your inventory management capabilities. From RFID readers for scanning to label printers and IoT status lamps, your connected devices work together to create a seamless workflow.
Device categories
Beam supports three categories of devices:
- RFID Readers Handheld and fixed readers for scanning RFID tags on your inventory items.
- Printers Label printers for printing barcode labels, QR codes, and RFID-encoded tags.
- IoT Lamps Status indicator lamps that provide visual feedback for scanning results and alerts.
Connection methods
Devices can connect to Beam in two ways:
- Local WiFi Connect directly to devices on your local network. Simple setup, works without internet.
- Via Beam Bridge Connect through the Beam Bridge hub for cloud connectivity, enabling remote access and advanced features.
Beam Bridge
The Beam Bridge is a central hub that connects your local devices to the cloud. It acts as a relay between your on-site hardware and Beam's cloud services, unlocking powerful features that are not available with local-only connections.
| Feature | Without Bridge | With Bridge |
|---|---|---|
| Remote access | No | Yes |
| Continuous scanning | No | Yes |
| Real-time notifications | No | Yes |
| Cloud features | No | Yes |
Setting up Beam Bridge
To set up your Beam Bridge:
- Connect the Beam Bridge to your network using an Ethernet cable.
- In the app, go to Devices > Add Device > Beam Bridge.
- Beam will scan your network for available Bridge devices.
- Tap the discovered Bridge to connect to it.
- Give your Bridge a name (for example, "Warehouse Bridge") to identify it easily.
Adding a device
Follow these steps to add any device to Beam:
- Go to the Devices section in the app.
- Tap Add Device.
- Choose the device type (RFID Reader, Printer, or IoT Lamp).
- Choose the connection method (Local WiFi or via Beam Bridge).
- Beam will scan your network for compatible devices.
- Select the device from the list of discovered devices.
- Give the device a name and optionally customize its icon and color.
- Tap Complete to finish the setup.
Network discovery
When scanning for devices, Beam uses standard network discovery protocols to find compatible hardware on your local network. It performs a subnet scan, classifies devices by type, and displays each device with its name, IP address, and device type.