Hardware Barcode Scanners

You can check in guests quickly by scanning tickets on any phone or tablet device using the built-in camera.

Learn more here: Scan Barcodes

But for high-volume check-in, you can use a hardware barcode scanner to make check-in a breeze.

What you'll need: 

• A laptop or mobile device

• A hardware barcode scanner with 1D/2D barcode functionality.  The "2D" ensures it is not a laser scanner, which will only work with paper.  Before purchasing, confirm that the scanner can scan barcodes off of a mobile device. 

• (Our recommendation:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WG1ZKZR)

• Make sure it has Bluetooth capability if not using a laptop.

Setup

• Pair with your device:  Follow the manufacturer's instructions to place your scanner in pairing mode, and connect it to your phone.  If there are options, make sure it is set up to act as a keyboard.

• Consider the following settings on your hardware scanner:

• Turn the flashlight off

• Keep the aiming light on during scanning

• Adjust the volume to your preferences

• There may be a default to disable the on-screen keyboard. Turn this setting off.

• Finally, set up ambient lighting by the door in order to scan any paper tickets

Start Scanning

Follow these intructions detailed in this article to enter scan mode
https://help.withfriends.co/2532027-scan-barcodes

Once you're in scan mode, simply pull the trigger on any barcode to scan it. Withfriends will check them in if they are eligible guests, and let you know their name and information.

Scanning Tips

• If you can, dedicate one staff member solely to scanning tickets, and another staff member to entry by name. 

• Remember to charge your hardware barcode scanner.

• To conserve batteries, don't allow Withfriends to turn on your camera when asked.

• Consider about 4-6 inch distance from a mobile device barcode, or 12+ inches from a paper barcode.

• When scanning from a mobile device, make sure the customer has their brightness up at least halfway.

• When scanning from paper barcodes, consider ambient lighting in the area.

• Hop in and out of scanning mode at any time.  When a guest doesn't have tickets, press X to close the window and search guests by name.  Return by pressing the scan button again. 

• Some scanners turn off the on-screen keyboard by default, so turn that setting off. See Setup above.

• Use an iPhone6, Google Pixel 2, Samsung Galaxy Note 6, or newer devices for best results

• Finally, when you see a member badge pop-up after scanning, make sure to thank and greet your member :)