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Barcode Scanners

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Barcode scanners speed up the checkout process by allowing cashiers to scan product barcodes instead of searching manually. Brother POS supports standard USB barcode scanners in keyboard wedge mode -- the simplest and most widely compatible scanner type.

Hardware Settings

How Barcode Scanning Works in Brother POS​

  1. A cashier scans a product barcode at the register.
  2. The scanner sends the barcode number to the POS as if it were typed on a keyboard (keyboard wedge mode).
  3. Brother POS looks up the barcode against product SKUs in your catalog.
  4. If a match is found, the product is added to the cart with a quantity of 1.
  5. Scanning the same barcode again increments the quantity.
No Drivers Needed

Because keyboard wedge scanners emulate keyboard input, no drivers or special software are required. The scanner works with any device that has a USB port -- Windows, macOS, Linux, or Chromebook.

Supported Scanners​

Any USB barcode scanner that operates in keyboard wedge mode (also called HID mode) is compatible. This includes the vast majority of commercial barcode scanners.

ScannerTypeConnectionNotes
Zebra DS22081D/2D ImagerUSBExcellent all-around scanner. Reads 1D and 2D barcodes.
Honeywell Voyager 1200g1D LaserUSBReliable, affordable 1D scanner.
Honeywell Xenon 1950g1D/2D ImagerUSBPremium scanner with fast decode speed.
Socket Mobile S7401D/2DBluetoothWireless option for mobile scanning.

Barcode Types Supported​

Brother POS can match any barcode format as long as the decoded value matches a product's SKU:

FormatCommon Use
Code 128General purpose, common on custom-printed labels
EAN-13Standard retail barcodes (international)
UPC-AStandard retail barcodes (North America)
QR Code2D barcodes (requires 2D imager scanner)
Code 39Alphanumeric barcodes

Setup​

Step 1: Plug In the Scanner​

  1. Connect the USB barcode scanner to an available USB port on your POS device.
  2. The scanner should power on automatically (you will see a light or hear a beep).
  3. No driver installation is needed.

Step 2: Verify Keyboard Wedge Mode​

Most scanners ship in keyboard wedge mode by default. To verify:

  1. Open any text editor (e.g., Notepad) on your POS device.
  2. Scan a barcode.
  3. The barcode number should appear as typed text in the editor.
  4. If text appears, the scanner is in keyboard wedge mode and ready to use.

If no text appears, consult your scanner's manual to enable keyboard wedge (HID) mode. This usually involves scanning a configuration barcode from the manual.

Step 3: Test in Brother POS​

  1. Open the POS register at storename.brotherpos.ca/pos.
  2. Ensure the POS search/scan field is active (it should be by default).
  3. Scan a product barcode that matches a product SKU in your catalog.
  4. The product should be added to the cart automatically.
Ensure SKUs Match

Barcode scanning relies on the scanned value matching a product's SKU field in Brother POS. Before deploying scanners, verify that your products have SKUs that match the barcodes on your physical products or labels.

Configuring Scanner Behavior​

Suffix Character​

Most barcode scanners append a carriage return (Enter key) after scanning. This is the expected behavior -- it tells Brother POS to process the scanned barcode immediately.

If your scanner does not add a carriage return suffix:

  1. Consult the scanner's manual for the "suffix" or "terminator" setting.
  2. Configure the scanner to append a carriage return (CR or Enter) after each scan.
  3. This is usually done by scanning a configuration barcode from the manual.

Scan Speed​

Modern scanners decode barcodes nearly instantly. If the POS seems to miss scans:

  1. Ensure the POS is on the product search/scan screen.
  2. Ensure no modal dialogs or popups are blocking the input field.
  3. Try scanning more slowly -- some very fast sequential scans may overlap.

Using Barcode Scanners at the Register​

Standard Workflow​

  1. The cashier picks up the product and scans its barcode.
  2. The product appears in the cart with quantity 1.
  3. To add multiple units, scan the barcode multiple times or manually adjust the quantity.
  4. Repeat for all products.
  5. Process payment as usual.

Mixed Workflow​

Cashiers can freely switch between scanning and manual search:

  1. Scan barcoded products.
  2. For products without barcodes, use the POS search field to find them by name.
  3. Both methods add products to the same cart.

Unrecognized Barcodes​

If a scanned barcode does not match any product SKU:

  1. The POS displays a "Product not found" message.
  2. The cashier can search for the product manually.
  3. Consider adding the barcode as the product's SKU for future scans.
Duplicate SKUs

Each SKU must be unique across your product catalog. If two products share the same SKU (barcode), scanning will return unpredictable results. Brother POS enforces SKU uniqueness when creating or editing products.

Wireless (Bluetooth) Scanners​

Bluetooth barcode scanners work similarly to USB scanners but connect wirelessly:

  1. Put the scanner in Bluetooth pairing mode (see the scanner's manual).
  2. Pair it with your POS device via Bluetooth settings.
  3. Once paired, it functions identically to a USB scanner in keyboard wedge mode.
Bluetooth Considerations
  • Keep the scanner within Bluetooth range (typically 10 meters / 30 feet).
  • Bluetooth scanners need charging. Keep a charging cradle at the register.
  • If the scanner disconnects, re-pair it via Bluetooth settings.

Printing Your Own Barcodes​

If your products do not come with manufacturer barcodes, you can print your own using Brother POS's label printing feature:

  1. Assign a unique SKU to each product in the product editor.
  2. Enable Label Printing in your feature flags.
  3. Print labels with barcodes from the product list or POS.
  4. Apply the labels to your products.
  5. The scanner can now read these labels.

See Label Printers for setup instructions.

Troubleshooting​

Scanner Does Not Add Products to Cart​

  1. Check the SKU -- Does the scanned value match a product's SKU exactly? Open a text editor, scan the barcode, and compare the result to the SKU in Brother POS.
  2. Check the POS focus -- Is the POS on the main sales screen with the search field active?
  3. Check the suffix -- The scanner must send a carriage return (Enter) after the barcode. Without it, Brother POS waits for more input.

Scanner Beeps but Nothing Happens​

  1. The scanner may be in the wrong mode (e.g., serial mode instead of keyboard wedge). Reset to HID/keyboard wedge mode using the scanner's manual.
  2. The POS window may not have focus. Click on the POS browser tab to bring it to the foreground.

Scanner Reads Incorrect Characters​

  1. Check the scanner's character encoding settings. It should be set to match your system's keyboard layout.
  2. Some scanners have a "keyboard country" setting that must match your locale.

Common Questions​

Can I use a phone camera as a barcode scanner? The POS does not currently support camera-based barcode scanning. Use a dedicated USB or Bluetooth barcode scanner.

How fast can I scan? Most scanners can decode a barcode in under 100 milliseconds. You can scan products as fast as you can pick them up. There is no practical speed limit.

Do I need a scanner for every register? Ideally, yes. Each register station should have its own scanner for maximum efficiency. Scanners are inexpensive and significantly speed up checkout.

What's Next?​