Barcode data (sometimes called point-of-sale data) is information from barcodes that is automatically gathered as a consumer’s purchases are put through a check-out. Typically, the information gathered would identify which customer bought what products, at what prices, and when and where the transaction took place.
Point-of-sale (POS) terminals collect enormous volumes of such data every day. According to a report in Darwin Magazine, the Staples office supply chain collects a gigabyte of data daily from its United States stores alone. After processing, barcode data can be very useful for marketing purposes. For example, a retailer might apply predictive technology software to help them plan when or where to launch a sales campaign, or how to price an item.
