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Barcoding of bikes - an introduction

← Bar coding
  Barcoding of bikes - an introduction


Why use barcodes?

The first thing to note is that barcoding your bikes is not at all a REQUIREMENT for using BRM, it is simply an option that you may want to use, normally when you're doing a high volume of rentals / maintenance.  This is normally because you :
  1. have a large fleet and so you handle LOTS of bikes.  Barcode scanning helps you eliminate mis-identification of your bikes
  2. have a small fleet but do LOTS of rentals with them.  If you want to streamline your process you can use a barcode scanner to create your reservations by scanning bikes.
  3. or perhaps you just do lots of maintenance of your bikes, and want your mechanics to be able to enter the service entries without have to wash hands and type stuff into a computer.

So what does a barcode look like?

here is an example of one of our bikes, AL60 (an aluminium framed 60cm bike - but you can name them how you like)




here are some notes about the labels:
  1. we happened to choose red because that's the colour of our shop, you can make them look however you like. (ensure good contrast though so they scan well)
  2. we use the same label to show the name of the bike to humans (i.e. the ID2 field - AL60) and the barcode (for the scanner).  The barcode is simply "AL60" in barcode format.
  3. you simply put the barcode ID of your bikes into your spreadsheet :


So how does it work?


Fundamentally barcoding is not very complicated, it is simply a means of putting letters and digits into a format that is easily readable by machines.  In this case they are called 1D labels and are read by a laser, just like you see in supermarkets etc.  There are many different formats you can actually use to technically encode your ID's and these are called stuff like CODE128 and CODE39 etc.  But you don't need to worry about that, most printers and readers support all formats.
BRM uses barcodes in two main ways:
  1. using a handheld bluetooth scanner, such as this one :


    2. Using this device your mechanic can easily scan in a bike, and then scan in the maintenance task they've just performed on the bike.  In this way they can quickly update your service records without having to wash thier hands etc.
    It is really just like a glorifed keyboard, sending the bike ID's to a connected computer.  That computer must be running BRM in 'hands free' mode for it to work.  As such a mechanic really needs a dedicated PC, or for smaller shops with 1 PC you just turn on 'hands free' mode before walking over to the workshop to do maintenance.

    see this link for a demo video






What about printing the labels?

You have a couple of options.  You can order them online or you can print your own.  Or we can provide them. If have a fairly large fleet you're going to want to buy a printer.  We would recommend something like the Brother PT-9700PC:

or the Brother PT2430PC:

What about those 2D barcodes - why doesn't BRM use them?

(also known as QR codes)




We looked into using thse 2D barcodes, but our extensive testing showed us that its not suitable for the bike rental sector for 4 main reasons:
  • bikes have curved surfaces; but these codes don't read well when curved.  1D codes however, are fine
  • bikes are stored in all sorts of lighting conditions, from outside in full sun to in the back of bike containers where its dark.  2D codes work using optical recognition, rather than laser techology.  This is much more subject to variations in lighting conditions.
  • its too slow.  Over a second compared to a few milliseconds.  Its just not viable for bike rental.
  • there is much less margin for error with 2D barcodes compared to 1D codes.  And you need that margin with bikes, coz they scratched, or partially obscured by mud / rain etc.

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