Barcode Scanning

StockFlow works with virtually any USB HID or Bluetooth barcode scanner, as well as the built-in camera on your phone or tablet (via the mobile app). You can scan barcodes to add stock, process sales, perform stocktakes, and look up products.

Supported barcode formats

Setting up a USB/Bluetooth scanner

No installation required. USB HID scanners behave like keyboards — they send keystrokes to whichever field is focused. StockFlow has a barcode focus mode that routes scanner input automatically:

1. In the StockFlow web app, press the barcode button in the toolbar (or press F9 on your keyboard)
2. Barcode Mode activates — a green indicator appears in the top bar
3. Scan a barcode — StockFlow looks up the product and opens its detail panel
4. Press Escape or F9 again to exit barcode mode

In barcode mode, any focused input field in a form (e.g. the product search field in Add Stock) also accepts scanner input.

Using the mobile app camera scanner

1. Open the StockFlow mobile app
2. Tap the scanner icon (📷) in the bottom navigation bar
3. Point your camera at a barcode
4. The app automatically recognises the format and opens the product

The mobile camera scanner supports all formats listed above.

Adding barcodes to products

Single product

1. Open the product in Goods List
2. In the Barcode field, either:
   • Type the barcode number manually
   • Or click the scanner icon next to the field and scan the physical barcode
3. Click Save Product

Adding barcodes to variants

Each variant can have its own barcode. Open the Variants tab on the product and enter a barcode per row.

Generating barcodes

If you create your own product labels, StockFlow can generate barcodes for you:

1. Open the product
2. Click Generate Barcode — StockFlow creates a unique EAN-13 barcode
3. Click Print Label to download a print-ready PDF in standard label formats (Avery, Zebra ZPL, etc.)

Scanning workflows

Scan to add stock

1. Go to Inventory → + Add Stock
2. Focus the Product field and scan — the product is auto-selected
3. Fill in quantity, warehouse, and reason
4. Click Confirm

Scan during a stocktake

1. Open a stocktake in progress at Inventory → Stocktakes
2. Scan each product — the quantity input becomes active for that row
3. Type or use a numeric keypad to enter the count
4. Scan the next product

Scan at point of sale

1. Create a new sale order
2. In the + Add Line Item field, scan the barcode
3. The product is added as a line item with quantity 1
4. Scan again to increase quantity, or change the number manually

Barcode label printing

StockFlow generates print-ready labels for your products:

1. Go to Goods List
2. Select one or more products
3. Click Print Labels in the toolbar
4. Configure:
   • Label size — choose from Avery presets or enter custom dimensions
   • Label content — include product name, SKU, price, barcode image
   • Copies per product — e.g. print 50 labels for a product with 50 units
5. Click Download PDF

Print the PDF on standard label paper using your label printer (Zebra, DYMO, Brother, or any laser printer with label sheets).

Troubleshooting