While we were presenting our school nutrition input devices at SNA ANC, a few visitors inquired about 1D and QR pin pad barcode readers, asking which model would be the best choice in the long run.
Well, that one is easy! If your school is currently only using 1D ID cards, both options will work since our QR model scans both 1D and 2D effortlessly. However, the advantage of using our AlphaScan QR Express model vs AlphaScan 1D is that the QR version is faster. With QR, you can easily and quickly read a barcode from any angle – see video – while with 1D it needs to be perfectly aligned with the scanner’s red light – look at this video.
Also, working with school cafeterias across the US and in Canada, we can tell you that they are increasingly updating to IDs with QR barcodes so getting the QR model is a better return on investment as you will still be able to use it if you make the switch.
Our QR pin pad scanner combo AlphaScan QR Express is fully programmable, compatible with all US school lunch POS software. It includes tactile embossed keys with Braille offering the option to manually enter a school ID. Each unit is covered by our extensive 3-year warranty and comes with a free protective cover to keep your device safe at all times.
