ENHANCING CONTAINER LOADING EFFICIENCY WITH A MOBILE BARCODE SCANNING APPLICATION

Abstract

Recent advancements in microprocessor technology have significantly enhanced the capabilities of mobile phones, enabling them to perform functions once limited to personal computers. This paper presents the design and implementation of a mobile application developed using the Scan It-Office platform, aimed at improving the container loading process through barcode-based automation. The application integrates barcode scanning functionality using the smartphone’s built-in camera, eliminating the need for dedicated scanning hardware. By capturing and decoding barcode information directly from containers, the system enables real-time identification and tracking, reducing manual data entry and minimizing errors. The methodology involved developing the mobile application with barcode decoding features using Scan It-Office, followed by field testing across multiple container loading operations. Time taken for loading using the manual method (by workers) was compared with the mobile barcode scanner system across nine containers. Each test recorded the number of items processed, the time spent and calculated the efficiency gains. Results showed that the mobile system consistently reduced container loading time by 75% to 90%, demonstrating its reliability, speed, and effectiveness as a practical logistics solution.