Department stores specialize in a wide range of personal consumer products from apparel to home appliances with multiple merchandise brands and at varying prices. Generally operating as a chain, department stores are characterized by multiple checkout locations throughout the store offering more personalized customer service. At each checkout location, it is important for department stores to utilize bar code scanning technology to speed up transaction times and capture data as quickly and accurately as possible.
In addition to fast service, department stores must also be equipped with reliable and high performance bar code readers capable of reading small or other hard-to-read bar code labels on the first pass. To work around space constraints at checkout, the bar code scanning solution should also feature a small foot print. Other challenges, such as employee training and turnover, can also be eased by bar code readers with more intuitive features.

	POS Checkout Department stores are typically characterized by an in-store distributed checkout model. From cosmetics to electronics, checkout counters can be found virtually anywhere in the store with a complete POS system for customers to make their purchases. Customers typically have few items in their transaction and these items are of medium to high unit prices and usually smaller in physical size. They can be apparel or other soft goods items. Rather than using shopping carts, customers place their items on the counter beside the POS terminal. The cashier can either bring the bar code scanner to the item, or vice versa, depending on his / her preference. For instance, the cashier may fold a clothing item then bring a handheld scanner to the item's hanging price tag. Another example of this situation is a transaction comprised of items that have larger physical sizes. Depending on the checkout design, a handheld bar code scanner or on-counter presentation scanner is the most efficient.
	EAS Deactivation For high-priced or commonly shoplifted items,retailers can utilize Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) tags to prevent unnecessary shrink / loss; yet implementing these tags requires a solution for quick and easy tag deactivation. Datalogic ADC's bar code scanners are capable of supporting Sensormatic or Checkpoint tags. Deactivation occurs automatically when the item is passed over the scanner. Datalogic additionally prevents the tag from deactivating until there is a good-read from the bar code label, allowing for proper deactivation and only catching truly active tags at exit points.
	Mobile Marketing At the forefront of consumer trends, department stores have already jumped into mobile marketing, or the use of a mobile device (cell phone, PDA or smart phone) as a new means of marketing communication, promotion or advertising. This new form of marketing opens two-way communication channels for retailers to directly engage and build trusted relationships with customers faster, better and with fewer costs than ever before. In order to implement such programs, businesses must be equipped with bar code scanners capable of reading directly from a mobile device's highly reflective screen. Imaging-based bar code scanners are required to read mobile bar codes with the best performance.
	Form Automation Many department stores offer loyalty programs or store-specific credit cards to their customers. Although these programs benefit their customers, it does require the customer to take their personal time to fill out an application. Datalogic's bar code readers simplify this process by extracting customer data from government issued ID cards to auto-populate customer application forms for credit cards, loyalty programs, product returns and more. This allows businesses to improve customer participation while adding the potential to capture additional customer data for marketing purposes. Capturing the customer's information at the source also ensures accurate records and the highest level of data integrity.
	Inventory Management Using mobile computers or bar code scanners, retailers can create a cost-saving inventory management system. By scanning each item's bar code label in the back room, in-store and at the checkout, businesses can automatically track items while updating inventory levels. This allows appropriate reorder points for optimal inventory practices to be set. Keeping an accurate and reliable inventory database also allows for better forecasting, reducing the chance of stock-outs, overstocks and emergency shipments.