Introduction
Beanstack, founded by Zoobean in 2013, is an edtech platform that helps students build reading habits through digital reading challenges, book logging, and gamified literacy programs. Since integrating Scandit's Web SDK in January 2021, the platform has scaled to serve 16.5 million students and staff across 7,400+ schools in over 300 US districts, with students self-scanning book ISBNs to log their reading progress.
Challenge
Beanstack needed a scanning solution that could work for students as young as five across 600,000 district-owned devices with varying camera quality — from Chromebooks to iPads. Manual book entry was time-consuming and error-prone for younger users, and the existing open-source scanning library could not handle the performance demands of rapid growth across thousands of schools.
Solution
Beanstack integrated the Scandit Barcode Scanner SDK for the Web into its progressive web application, enabling lightning-fast ISBN scanning directly in the browser. The SDK handles damaged or faded barcodes, scans at various angles and in low-light conditions, and works reliably across 20,000+ device types including lower-end Chromebooks — all without requiring a native app installation.
Why SCANDIT
The Scandit Barcode Scanner SDK for the Web was the only solution that could deliver fast, reliable ISBN scanning across the enormous variety of district-owned devices — from high-end iPads to budget Chromebooks with low-quality cameras. Browser-based operation eliminates the need for app installation, which is critical in K-12 environments where device management policies are strict and students need frictionless access.
"Kids find scanning fun. The entire scanning experience aligns nicely with all the different gamification elements that we offer."
— Kelly Hiser, VP of Product & Client Engagement, Beanstack
Impact
Since deploying Scandit's Web SDK, Beanstack has grown to 500,000 monthly scans with continuous growth since launch. The scanning experience has become a key engagement driver — students find scanning fun, and the speed and reliability keep them coming back to log their reading. The platform now serves as a critical literacy tool across 300+ US school districts.