Introducing Enhanced Barcode Scanning: Variable Weight and Inventory Support

Barcode scanning just got a major upgrade

The best farm tools are the ones that help you farm smarter, not harder. That's why we've expanded our barcode scanning functionality to give you more speed, flexibility, and control when processing in-person orders and when restocking inventory.

Whether you're selling in person with weighted products or adding new inventory after a harvest, barcode scanning helps you speed things up and reduce mistakes. It's a simple way to save time and keep your records accurate.

What’s new with barcode scanning

Previously, barcode scanning helped you log in-person orders faster by letting you scan product barcodes instead of clicking through your product list. Now, we’ve added new functionality that opens up a whole suite of use cases.

In addition to scanning products in real-time, you can also:

• Print barcodes and barcode labels for all your products and keep a scan sheet at your register.
• Read and scan weight-based products to get accurate weights for all your cuts.
• Add incoming inventory by scanning barcodes to quickly update your product table with stock information, eliminating the need for manual entry at the product or package level.

Built for how you sell and stock

Every farm is different. Whether you sell at a farm stand, a retail store, or wholesale to buyers, barcode scanning is designed to simplify your workflow:

Speed up your checkout

When you're selling in-person, every second counts. Barcode scanning lets you skip the long scroll through product lists. Just scan the item and it's added to the order. Whether you're serving one customer or twenty, this keeps things moving quickly and smoothly, especially when the line starts to grow. 

​​We put variable-weight product entry to the test, and the results were clear. Using the barcode scanner was 43% faster than manual entry! Just imagine the time savings this adds up to over days, weeks, and months.

Reduce order errors

Manual entry leaves room for mistakes. One wrong click can throw off an entire order. With barcode scanning, the risk of error drops significantly. Each scan adds the exact item with the correct package, so you can trust that every sale is accurate. 

Additionally, with support for weighted barcodes, you can guarantee you’re getting the exact price for every product you sell. 

Stay organized at scale

As your product list grows, so does the challenge of managing it. Barcode scanning helps you stay on top of inventory, SKUs, and order details, without needing a dozen spreadsheets. It’s a game changer for teams that handle a high volume of products across multiple channels. Just add the correct package code to your various packages in Local Line, export labels, and scan away. And yes, you can scan the same package multiple times to increase quantity or weight.

Make adding inventory easier and faster

Bringing in new inventory? Skip the clipboards and counting by hand. Barcode scanning makes it easy to update stock as it arrives. Scan each item into your product table to log it instantly and maintain accurate inventory from day one. Whether you're stocking from your own field or receiving from a processor, it’s a faster, cleaner way to track what’s coming in.

Included in Premium + Ultimate pricing plans, and available as an add-on in Core.

Barcode scanning is now included in every Premium and Ultimate plan. If you’re on a Core plan, you can add it to your account for just $29/month. Learn more about Local Line’s pricing plans.

How to get started

To turn on barcode scanning:

1. Head to a product’s package settings and check Enable package codes.
2. Enter your codes (or scan an existing label into the field).
3. Save your changes.

If you want to generate barcodes, you can define your own custom codes, enter these in Local Line, and then print a scan sheet to keep at your point of sale to scan when logging an order.

Tip: Keep package codes under 14 characters if you plan to print barcode labels or scan sheets.

Now that all your packages have associated barcodes, you can use your barcode scanner when logging orders in person or tracking incoming inventory.

Ready to scan smarter?

This feature was built with your real-world workflow in mind. As farms scale and diversify their sales methods, barcode scanning helps keep operations tidy, accurate, and efficient.

If you’re ready to simplify order entry and keep the line moving, try barcode scanning today or chat with our team to learn how we can help you!