Manufacturers and Logistics Providers Embrace AI for Enhanced Barcode Reading Performance

As traceability and security concerns continue to rise in manufacturing, barcode reading is becoming increasingly vital on production lines worldwide. A survey conducted by Cognex reveals that manufacturers are looking to AI to address their biggest barcode reading challenges and improve overall performance.

The survey, which included 283 participants from manufacturing and logistics businesses in Asia, North America, and Europe, highlights the growing importance of AI in barcode reading applications. Key findings indicate that reading difficult codes is the primary concern for users, and they expect AI to deliver better performance and reliability.

The survey identified that damaged, smudged, or wrinkled barcodes are the top challenge for 41% of respondents, followed by issues with distortion, reflections, and curved surfaces (39%), and troublesome code sizes and locations (35%).

Respondents overwhelmingly believe that AI will enhance barcode reading performance, with almost half (47%) expecting higher read rates. Other leading expectations include more accurate detection and improved reading of damaged codes, with logistics providers in particular emphasizing accurate detection.

When choosing a barcode reader, reliability and ease of maintenance are the top priorities for users. This focus on dependable performance is understandable since only 21% of respondents said they're experts, while a third said they're novices. That lack of expertise makes maintenance issues even more pressing when making a buying decision for crucial day-to-day operations.