Barcode Scan App vs. Exact Inventory Management App
Both the Barcode Scan App and the Exact Inventory Management App connect to Exact Online for barcode scanning in the warehouse. However, the two apps are built with different goals and offer different levels of functionality. On this page, we compare both apps fairly, so you can make the right choice for your situation.
Comparison at a glance
When to choose the Exact Inventory Management App
The Exact Inventory Management App offers a broad set of warehouse features: goods receipt, location and warehouse transfers, putaway, stock counting, work order receipt, material issue, operations and assembly orders. For businesses that use these standard features without the need for optimised picking or advanced capabilities, the free Exact app is a good choice.
When to choose the Barcode Scan App
While both apps share many base features, the Barcode Scan App stands out where it matters most for efficiency and speed:
- Multi-order picking with walking routes — pick multiple sales orders simultaneously via an optimised route through the warehouse, reducing picking time by 40-60%
- Assign orders to pickers — distribute orders across staff to prevent duplicate work
- Smart Shop Floor — time tracking per operation with badge scanning for real-time production progress
- FIFO/FEFO — automatic sequencing based on expiry date or arrival order
- GS1 & HIBC barcodes — support for industrial barcode standards
- Labels & packing slips — generate labels and packing slips directly from the app
- Returns processing — link return receipts to the original sales order
- Dedicated support — direct contact with our team, no queue at Exact
The Barcode Scan App is continuously developed based on user feedback. New features and improvements are released regularly, so you always have access to the latest capabilities.
The smart choice for growing businesses
The Barcode Scan App grows with your business. Start with the basic features for goods receipt and sales orders, and enable advanced features when you need them. No large IT project is required — you can get started right away from your browser on any device.
Many businesses start with the free Exact app and switch to the Barcode Scan App as soon as they find they need more. That switch is straightforward: the Barcode Scan App works with the same Exact Online data, so nothing is lost.