Regular price accuracy checks don’t have to be a hassle. Advances in machine learning technology have enabled data capture software to run even on ordinary smartphones and tablets – giving rise to price tag scanning software development kits (SDKs).
In this article, we’ll discuss why you need regular price tag accuracy checks and how to implement them without burdening your employees.
Why your retail business needs a Price Tag Scanning SDK
Price discrepancies don’t arise out of malicious intent. Retail staff often work true multi-tasking wonders: stocking shelves, answering customer questions, and then being called in to quickly cash out a customer or assist at a self-checkout booth. During all these operations, mistakes can slip in. Employees may well forget to update price tags or place them incorrectly.
The hefty consequences of overcharging
However, before the law, that simple carelessness is no excuse. Inaccurate or missing price tags can result in significant monetary and reputational damage.
Many U.S. states have pricing laws and regulations to protect consumers from being overcharged. Generally, these require retailers to clearly display accurate prices and provide remedies for customers when they have been overcharged. In some states, like Michigan, consumers are also entitled to a bonus.
And the consequences for retailers can be dire. Dollar General Corp. had to pay a $850,000 settlement due to alleged violations of Wisconsin price accuracy law.
The impact on consumer trust, too, can be immense. Price discrepancies lead to customer frustration and complaints, and word spreads fast.
This doesn’t have to happen to you.
Through regular pricing accuracy checks, you can easily prevent pricing discrepancies, ensuring compliance with consumer protection regulations. Notably, Dollar General now conducts internal price accuracy checks in its Wisconsin stores at least every 45 days. In the long run, such checks protect profit margin and brand reputation.
Price accuracy checks must not hamper retail operations
Finding ways to include price accuracy checks in busy daily operations is not a trivial task.
The traditional methods are cumbersome. Whether it’s checking price tag values off a paper list, or typing them into a checking system, manual price checking is not only labor-intensive but is itself error-prone.
Retailers need a solution that doesn’t add to the workload, but actually lightens it.
Cue Optical Character Recognition (OCR). Let’s find out how this innovative image processing technology efficiently replaces manual data entry.
Simplify regular price accuracy checks with an OCR Price Tag Scanning SDK
OCR technology converts images of text into machine-readable data. In contrast, a simple document scanner only produces an image of a document, readable to humans, but not to machines. Modern OCR software turns such a picture into a digital document that can be processed automatically.
And yet, OCR on its own doesn’t make a perfect price tag reader. This is because standard OCR software usually processes all the data in an image. At the shelf, it would also read irrelevant text, like that on product packaging.
A Price Tag Scanning SDK is the answer. Using fine-tuned OCR, it only extracts relevant data, such as product name and price. The software then returns simple key-value pairs, which can be processed automatically by backend systems. Such an SDK offers all the tools needed for easy implementation into your retail app, from code libraries and documentation to example projects, plus integration support by its developers.
The end result is that employees can simply whip out any smartphone or tablet to do regular price tag accuracy checks almost in passing, and the software does the rest.
It extracts the price information and outputs key-value pairs that can then be cross-referenced with the store’s inventory database. This makes price tag accuracy checks quick, accurate, and efficient.
A mobile data capture solution for your price tag accuracy checks
The Scanbot Text Pattern Scanner SDK is the perfect price tag scanning solution. It accurately extracts pre-defined single-line text patterns, such as the product price and name, right in your mobile or web app.
Thanks to its Ready-to-Use UI components, you can integrate the SDK into your app within hours. They provide a pre-built, user-friendly interface, yet still offer extensive customization options. For even deeper customization, you can leverage our Classic UI components.
With the advanced text recognition engine at its core, you can achieve reliable results even in difficult conditions, such as changing lighting and fonts.
Are you curious about the Scanbot Text Pattern Scanner SDK? Then send us a quick message at sdk@scanbot.io, and we will gladly discuss your requirements!
