Bar codes on Appeal devices

Cheryl Cummings

Greetings, fellow Edgers:



Is anyone using bar codes on appeal reply devices (acquisitions, membership renewals, etc.) and then scanning them to automate gift entry in RE?  We are considering it and I wonder how it is working for your organization and a few other specifics:  (1) Do you generate your bar codes in RE, or is that done at your mailhouse? (2) How long did it take you to implement? (3) What scanning hardware do you use?



Thanks very much for your time & willingness to share your experience!

 -Cheryl

Connie Evans

We haven't used it, but are also possibly looking at the feature.  Interested in the feedback.

John Heizer

I don't use barcodes currently, but have at previous orgs (and was a "pioneer" in doing so well before it was supported in RE).  It can speed up data entry somewhat and increase accuracy greatly.  But for it to work well you definitely need to the barcode generated by RE even if the barcode is then printed by a mailhouse.  Ages ago I shared some of my experiences here:  http://www.zamtech.info/html/barcoding_menu.html much of which still applies today.



As for hardware, anything that works as either a "keyboard wedge" or USB HID device (both of which just appear as another keyboard to your PC) should be fine.  Having something that is mounted on a stand and you can just pass the barcoded remit slip inside the scan beam can make things faster than having to pick up a scanner and aim it as the barcode and press the trigger, but the RE barcode can be really long and sometimes the stand can't be placed so that the scanner can easily scan the full width of the form's barcode.  If you can afford the extra cost getting a 2D scanner will help future-proof your investment.

Cheryl Cummings

Great info - thanks very much, John.

Lynn Slussar

Yes, we use barcodes on all our appeal mailings.  It definitely improves the data entry process.  We purchased several scanners for our data entry team and they are relatively inexpensive.  There are some challenges for me as I do not use Mail to create my data file since I often have to include fields that are not included in the Appeal Cards. I export the barcodes out separately from my data files and then merge them using VLOOKUP.  I also change the first letter of the barcode from *A to *C in order for the gifts to scan as the gift type of Cash.  I would love to see the option to get the Barcodes directly from Export as opposed to Mail.  It would make my life significantly easier.

Brian Bates 2

Lynn Slussar:

Yes, we use barcodes on all our appeal mailings.  It definitely improves the data entry process.  We purchased several scanners for our data entry team and they are relatively inexpensive.  There are some challenges for me as I do not use Mail to create my data file since I often have to include fields that are not included in the Appeal Cards. I export the barcodes out separately from my data files and then merge them using VLOOKUP.  I also change the first letter of the barcode from *A to *C in order for the gifts to scan as the gift type of Cash.  I would love to see the option to get the Barcodes directly from Export as opposed to Mail.  It would make my life significantly easier.

Two questions:  

1. How do you export out the bar codes?  This is the first that I have heard of being able to do that!!!  we have not pursued this because we utilize a mailhouse to merge the data that we need . . . . would love to explore bar codes on our appeal cards for ease in batching.

2. Is the option to export bar codes in export already an idea or suggestion that I could vote on?

 

Darrel Spacone bCRE

Cheryl Cummings:

Greetings, fellow Edgers:


Is anyone using bar codes on appeal reply devices (acquisitions, membership renewals, etc.) and then scanning them to automate gift entry in RE?  We are considering it and I wonder how it is working for your organization and a few other specifics:  (1) Do you generate your bar codes in RE, or is that done at your mailhouse? (2) How long did it take you to implement? (3) What scanning hardware do you use?


Thanks very much for your time & willingness to share your experience!

 -Cheryl

I have used in the past and implemented at a few organizations. Currently recommend this to other organizations as a consultant. Very little cost to implement with scanners and a different approach to creating your Appeal, but does speed up batch entry and accuracy. John makes a good post.