Scales in trade: types, how to choose, key aspects
Scales — essential equipment for trade. They are used in stores, bulk goods departments, warehouses, production lines, jewelry departments, transport companies, pharmacies, factories, and other businesses that require weighing goods.
Scales are used in business for:
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packaging and labeling products with barcodes before sale,
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weighing goods by sellers at the checkout or by customers at self-service kiosks,
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pre-checking the weight of goods by customers in the sales area,
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measuring the weight of jewelry items,
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weighing valuable goods by weight in pawnshops,
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weighing parcels before shipment,
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loading construction materials and goods at wholesale bases,
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preparing dishes in food service establishments,
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manufacturing and weighing medications in pharmacies.
What types of trade scales are there?
✅Classic electronic scales — usually have a load capacity of 5/15/30 kg and can be tabletop or floor models. They only perform weighing functions and may feature a built-in battery, displays for both the customer and seller, or a stand. These are also referred to as "kitchen scales."
✅Label printing scales — equipped with a built-in label printer to immediately print labels after weighing goods. The labels usually include all the necessary information for selling the product: weight, product name, barcode, price, etc. These scales are commonly used in bulk goods departments in supermarkets, trade centers, bulk goods stores, confectioneries, and ready-to-go meal departments.
✅Packing scales — similar to label printing scales but can connect to accounting software, enabling precise and efficient packaging of goods, automatic price calculation, label printing, and data storage in the software.
✅Platform scales — scales with a high load capacity, up to 150 kg. They are designed for weighing bulky goods, heavy loads, boxes, bags, and containers. These scales are commonly found in transport companies, wholesale bases, construction material stores, markets, and production packing lines. Examples include stores like Epicenter, METRO, and Nova Poshta.
✅Analytical scales — highly precise scales with minimal error margins and granularity. Their load capacity usually does not exceed 5 kg, sometimes even 1 kg. These scales can detect weight differences as small as tenths, hundredths, thousandths, and even ten-thousandths of a gram. They are used in pharmacies, laboratories, gold and silver stores, jewelry departments, and anywhere precise weighing is critical.
How to choose scales?
To purchase reliable scales, consider their features and capabilities, and determine which scales best suit your business:
✅ Construction material — to prevent rusting, the platform should at least be made of stainless steel.
✅ Barcode label printing — ideal for marking goods by customers or sellers.
✅ Touch display — the most convenient option for self-service weighing by customers. However, not all touch displays respond well to wet hands or gloves. Ensure the display is sensitive and of high quality.
✅ Dual-sided display — shows weight and cost to both the seller and customer.
✅ Waterproof keyboard — crucial for outdoor trade, fish shops, meat shops, cafes, restaurants, or departments weighing liquids.
✅ Size — choose scales appropriate for your business: small tabletop scales for counters, medium floor scales for warehouses, or large platform scales for transport companies.
✅ Functionality, such as tare compensation, summing costs of weighed goods, etc. In trade, you often need to weigh goods in specific containers or boxes or weigh multiple items for the same customer. Ensure the scales have the functions you need, which are usually listed in the product description on the website and in the manufacturer’s manual.
✅ Built-in power source — in recent years, the ability to use scales without electricity has become essential for outdoor trade, warehouses, markets, and even regular stores due to frequent power outages. The best scales have built-in batteries and can work both from the power grid and autonomously. Some scales can work up to 120 hours without recharging.
✅ Ability to connect to accounting software — when selling goods by weight, it’s important to track inventory. It’s much easier to do this when scales send weighing data to accounting software, automatically adjusting stock levels and recording sales. This connectivity is a significant advantage for business scales.
Why use Torgsoft accounting software for weighing goods?
Torgsoft software streamlines the process of weighing, packaging, and labeling goods. Additional features include:
◾ Connecting electronic scales for weighing during sales — scales connect to the software to send weighing data to Torgsoft. The software calculates the cost, records the sale, and updates stock levels. This eliminates manual entry, preventing errors and speeding up the sales process.
◾ The "Packing and Labeling Goods with Barcodes" feature — enables quick and easy weighing, packing, and labeling of goods using label printing scales. The software generates a file with product prices and descriptions, which the scales recognize to print labels. Cashiers scan the label, and the software updates the stock and sales data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if scales connected to a computer freeze? — The most common reason is Windows updates. Remove drivers and restart automatic updates in the Device Manager.
Why aren’t the scales working or weighing? — Possibly an incorrect port is specified. Reconnect the scales to the computer and check the COM port number. If it has changed, select the correct number in the software settings.
Useful links:
How to connect and configure scales with receipt printing?
How to choose scales for trade?