University Study: Digimarc Barcode Faster & Safer for Cashiers

A cashier ergonomic study conducted by the Exercise Science Research Center at the University of Arkansas shows that scanning packaging with Digimarc Barcode has the potential to be safer and faster for cashiers. The results were published in the International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics and detail the University’s findings.

The Exercise Science Research Center, with funding from Digimarc and the Center for Retailing Excellence at the University of Arkansas, created the study. The purpose was to determine how Digimarc Barcode—because it is an imperceptible barcode and covers much of the packaging—impacts cashier arm muscle activity compared to the UPC barcode (both in instances of a single UPC on packaging, as well in packaging with multiple UPC barcodes).

The study’s secondary aim was to determine the differences in efficiency and participant satisfaction between Digimarc Barcode and the traditional barcode.

Some of the study’s highlights are:

• Checkout is faster when scanning a basket with Digimarc Barcode packaging
• Cashier upper body muscle activity is reduced when scanning packages with Digimarc Barcode
• There is a potential for it to be less taxing on cashier muscles to scan products with Digimarc Barcode as opposed to those with a UPC barcode
• Even cashiers scanning packaging with Digimarc Barcode for the first time, were able to register a quicker scanning time in comparison to the UPC

Get the study and read an article on the results by the University of Arkansas.