Penguin Pickup

Challenge

Penguin Pickup runs a national network of partner shops and smart lockers across Canada. Their web app, Pulse, manages day-to-day parcel operations, but barcode scanning was a bottleneck. The previous browser-based scanner struggled with stability, browser quirks, and support responsiveness. Operators often had to manually key in codes when scans failed, slowing throughput and increasing error rates. The team needed a solution that worked reliably across laptops, tablets, and phones, handled worn or low-contrast labels, and delivered consistent, fast scans without forcing users to install native apps.

Solution

The team integrated the barKoder Web SDK to scan 1D and 2D barcodes directly in the browser. barKoder stood out against competitors thanks to its real-world performance, fair pricing, clear documentation, and responsive support. Key features like continuous scan mode, smooth camera access, and robust decoding on damaged labels fit seamlessly into operator workflows. During implementation, browser permission quirks and camera defaults required tuning, but the barKoder team provided concise guidance and code snippets that resolved these challenges quickly.

Result

With barKoder, Penguin Pickup achieved:

• Faster first-pass scans and fewer retries, especially on lived-in labels.
• A drop in manual barcode entry, reducing error rates and training time.
• A smoother operator experience across all device types.
• Confidence in scalability, knowing barKoder would work with them if they exceeded licensed device limits.

The company now benefits from dependable performance, responsive support, and sensible pricing — the trifecta that matters most in operations. Looking forward, they’re eager for the Web SDK to support multi-barcode scanning with AR overlays, already available in barKoder’s mobile products.