Barcode scanner

A scango.ch checkout has a built-in scanner. In some setups a separate handheld scanner is used as well. Both are independent devices with their own configuration – so they can read the same barcode differently. This page shows how to reprogram the scanners and solve common scanning problems.

Reprogram a scanner

Checkout scanner (Datalogic)

Open the Datalogic Product Reference Guide and print the required pages – or display them on a screen. Then scan the following with the checkout scanner, one after another:

1. ENTER/EXIT PROGRAMMING MODE
2. The desired settings barcode
3. ENTER/EXIT PROGRAMMING MODE again (saves and exits)

⚠️ Cover neighbouring barcodes. Manual pages show several codes side by side, and the scanner may otherwise read the wrong one.

Handheld scanner (Sunmi)

In the User Manual SUNMI 2D Scanner, scan the following one after another:

1. Enter Setup
2. The desired settings barcode
3. Exit Setup

💡 If you scanned the wrong code: Restore All Factory Defaults resets the handheld scanner to factory settings.

ℹ️ The K2 is also available with a Newland scanner. In that case different programming barcodes apply – contact us and we will help.

Problem: barcode starts with a zero (0…)

Symptom

Depending on the scanner, the same physical barcode may be transmitted as a different digit sequence. Example for barcode 0222512031857:

💡 Note about the kiosk app: The scango.ch kiosk app normalises leading zeros when looking up products. If either spelling is stored on the product – 0222512031857 or 222512031857 – the checkout usually still finds the item, regardless of which variant the scanner sends.

Even so, assigning barcodes that start with zero remains problematic: scanners and other systems (e.g. dashboard scanner, imports, third-party tools) may behave differently. The clean approach is a correct barcode without a leading 0.

Cause: the barcode was assigned incorrectly

A 13-digit code that starts with 0 is technically not an EAN-13, but a UPC-A code (12 digits) from North America. The leading zero is not a real digit there – it is only padding so the code becomes 13 digits long.

Each scanner may decide whether to include or omit that zero – both variants are correct according to the standard. This is therefore not a defect of the checkout or the scanner, but an error in how the barcode was assigned.

👉 Internal barcodes must never start with a 0.

💡 Tip: Start internal barcodes with a 2. The number range 20–29 is explicitly reserved by GS1 for in-store use and does not collide with codes from official retail.

Solution A: correct the barcode

This solution only works for self-assigned internal barcodes that you also print and apply yourself. For purchased retail goods the manufacturer prints the barcode and it cannot be changed – use solution B or C instead.

For your own barcodes this is the only approach that permanently fixes the issue across all devices:

1. Replace the first digit 0 with a 2.
2. Recalculate the check digit – see Check digit calculator | GS1 Switzerland. Example: 0222512031857 becomes 2222512031855.
3. Generate the new code as artwork, print it and re-label the affected products.
4. Update the barcode on the product in the scango.ch dashboard.

Solution B: few affected products – store both spellings

At the kiosk checkout this option is usually not needed thanks to zero normalisation (see note above). It remains useful if you also scan the same products in other tools that match exactly, or as extra insurance.

Also store the product under the second spelling – once with and once without the leading zero:

• 0222512031857
• 222512031857

If you create it as a separate product, stock levels and statistics are split across two entries. If the Additional codes field on the product page is activated for your organization (on request), store the second spelling there on the same product; stock and statistics then stay together.

Solution C: many affected products – standardise the scanners

If many products are affected, or you want the same digit sequence across devices, configure the devices so they all send the same spelling. Choose one spelling and apply it to all devices.

Option 1: set the handheld scanner to 13 digits (with leading zero). Suitable if your products are already stored with a leading zero. In the User Manual SUNMI 2D Scanner, chapter UPC-A › Transmit Preamble Character (page 96), scan with the handheld scanner:

1. Enter Setup
2. System Character & Country Code
3. Exit Setup

Option 2: set the checkout scanner to 12 digits (without leading zero). Suitable if your products are stored without a leading zero. In the Datalogic Product Reference Guide, chapter Expand UPC-A to EAN-13 (page 110), scan with the checkout scanner:

1. ENTER/EXIT PROGRAMMING MODE
2. Expand UPC-A to EAN-13 = Disable
3. ENTER/EXIT PROGRAMMING MODE

Conversely, Expand UPC-A to EAN-13 = Enable sets the checkout scanner to 13 digits.

⚠️ Important for both options: The setting applies to all UPC-A codes, including purchased North American retail goods. Products previously stored in the other spelling must be updated after the change. Apply the change consistently on all devices at a site.

Problem: QR codes are not read

Symptom

The checkout scanner reads normal barcodes fine but does not react to QR codes – for example on gift cards, discount codes or codes shown on a smartphone.

Cause

By default the Datalogic scanner ignores QR codes whose content is a web link (URL). This is intentional in retail so that promotional or packaging QR codes are not scanned at the checkout by mistake. For the scango.ch use cases, however, you need these codes.

Solution: enable QR code reading

With the checkout scanner, scan the following programming barcodes from the Datalogic Product Reference Guide one after another:

1. ENTER/EXIT PROGRAMMING MODE
2. QR Code URL Link = Enable (page 245)
3. ENTER/EXIT PROGRAMMING MODE

After that, QR codes with web links are read.

💡 If no QR code is recognised at all, also enable QR code reading itself: same sequence, but with the barcode QR Code = Enable (page 242).

⚠️ Cover neighbouring barcodes here as well – right next to "QR Code URL Link = Enable" is the "Disable" option.

"Wrong QR Code" message at the checkout

If a customer scans a QR code with a web link that is not a scango.ch code (e.g. the QR code on packaging or a promotional flyer), the checkout shows the message "Wrong QR Code – Please scan the barcode, not the QR code." and plays a warning sound. If an email address for error reports is stored in the store settings (Settings › Organization › Stores), it also receives a notification with the checkout and the scanned link.

In this case, the customer scans the product's barcode. If the message keeps coming up for a particular item, check that its barcode is clearly visible, or cover the QR code on the packaging. The checkout recognises QR codes of scango.ch gift cards and discount codes as normal.

Special QR codes from the fact sheet

Your fact sheet contains QR codes that trigger a staff function at the checkout:

Keep these codes where customers cannot access them.