Beyond Barcodes: The Rise of Smart Label Capture
Problem
In logistics, retail, and healthcare environments, the information workers process extends far beyond barcodes. Expiry dates, price labels, vehicle identification numbers (VINs), and pharmaceutical lot numbers all require verification and system entry. In most operations, this data entry is done manually. Workers read labels by eye and type values into keyboards or touchscreens — a process that is both slow and error-prone. Small print and low-quality labels compound the problem, leading to frequent input errors.
Solution
SCANDIT's Smart Label Capture simultaneously and automatically recognizes both barcode and text information from a single label scan. Simply pointing the camera at a label instantly captures expiry dates, prices, VINs, and other data types, transmitting them directly to the system. Unlike basic OCR, this technology automatically classifies data types, distinguishing between date formats, price formats, and vehicle number formats, mapping each to the appropriate field. Smart Label Capture is supported across both Native SDK and Web SDK, and is also available through SCANDIT Express.
Outcome
- 7x improvement in data entry speed
- Manual input errors effectively eliminated
- Workers freed from repetitive data entry tasks
- Immediate impact in compliance-critical domains like food expiry and pharmaceutical lot tracking
A significant portion of on-site data is not encoded in barcodes. SCANDIT's Smart Label Capture is an AI-driven solution that extracts all information from a label in a single scan.
The Limits of Manual Entry
In most operations, label information beyond barcodes is still processed manually. The problems with workers reading and typing data are clear:
- Speed loss — each label takes tens of seconds to enter manually
- Frequent errors — small print, low-quality printing, and multilingual labels increase mistakes
- Compliance risk — incorrect expiry dates or lot numbers can lead to regulatory penalties
As long as operations rely on manual entry, scaling throughput also scales error rates. It is a structural limitation that cannot be overcome with training alone.
How Smart Label Capture Works
Smart Label Capture is an AI-powered multimodal data capture technology. Point the camera at a label, and it recognizes barcodes and text simultaneously while AI automatically classifies the data types.
Core capabilities:
- Simultaneous barcode + text capture — extract all label information in a single scan
- Automatic data classification — AI distinguishes between dates, prices, lot numbers, and VINs, mapping each to the correct field
- Complex label handling — accurate recognition even on labels with multiple barcodes and dense text
Where standard OCR simply "reads" text, Smart Label Capture understands and structures the data it reads. It processes label data up to 7x faster than manual entry.
Industry Applications
Smart Label Capture delivers impact across every industry where labels carry complex information:
- Food retail — automatically recognize expiry dates, production dates, and storage temperatures for waste management and compliance
- Healthcare — simultaneously capture pharmaceutical lot numbers, expiry dates, and NDC codes for improved drug tracking accuracy
- Logistics — process barcodes, addresses, and weight data from shipping labels in a single scan to accelerate receiving and dispatch
- Automotive — instantly recognize 17-character VINs, eliminating manual entry errors
How to Deploy
Smart Label Capture integrates into existing mobile apps through the SCANDIT SDK, supporting iOS and Android native apps as well as web applications.
Deployment options:
- SDK integration — add Smart Label Capture directly to your existing business app
- SCANDIT Express — deploy immediately with pre-configured workflows, no coding required
No dedicated hardware is needed. Enterprise-grade label capture runs on existing smartphone cameras.
Data Connect Support
As SCANDIT's official partner in Korea, Data Connect provides technical consulting, PoC development, and system integration for Smart Label Capture deployments. We design optimal configurations matched to your specific label types and workflow requirements.
FAQ
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