Bar codes streamline workflow and eliminate the need to key-in items to manage records and documents. Location control and lifecycle management are vastly simplified with the use of bar codes. For example, bar codes can identify the nature of a particular folder, while also indicating an action (i.e., check-in, checkout, transfer, archive) and location (i.e., Collections Department, Offsite storage, S. Johnson).

Bar coding enables documents and records to be uniquely indexed and controlled from various workers and sites. Electronic forms can be printed with bar codes to track their disposition and provide document-level indexing when scanned/digitized. Records, document groups, individual documents, even exact pages, can all be managed according to origination date, last handled date or other criteria. They can also be reconciled real-time against retention standards, with auto-messaging for life-cycle records management.

Available in one- or two-dimensional formats, as well as using RFID (radio frequency) technology.