Text scanning in Warehouse Insight is available in the current release and is not gated behind a forthcoming version. The capability works with the Warehouse Insight application as it exists today, and it will continue to work in future releases as well. No special update or beta version is required.
How Text Scanning Works
Warehouse Insight supports what is sometimes called barcode-free scanning, which allows the device’s scanner hardware to read printed text directly from boxes, labels, shelf tags, or other surfaces and pass that text to the application just as a barcode scan would. The process is as fast as scanning a conventional barcode — the user simply aims the scanner at the text, activates the scan, and the application captures the information. There is no need to open a camera app, manually zoom, or focus. The scanner reads the printed characters optically and delivers the result to Warehouse Insight in the same way a barcode scan would.
Practical Use Cases
This capability is particularly valuable for warehouses that are transitioning to barcode-based inventory management for the first time. It is common for such environments to have item numbers, lot numbers, or other identifiers printed in plain text on product packaging or racking without a corresponding barcode. Rather than requiring a complete re-labeling project before going live, text scanning allows those identifiers to be captured immediately. A warehouse can begin scanning operations using whatever text is already present on their inventory and shelving, and then progressively adopt barcode labels over time as part of normal operations.
The same feature also addresses scenarios where lot numbers or serial numbers are printed directly on packaging rather than encoded in a barcode. Scanning that text directly eliminates the need for a secondary label or manual data entry, which reduces both time and the potential for keying errors. This makes it a practical tool for industries such as manufacturing, food and beverage, and pharmaceuticals where lot and serial traceability is important but barcoding is not always consistent across suppliers.
Hardware Considerations
Text scanning requires scanner hardware that supports optical character recognition (OCR) or high-resolution area imaging. Most modern industrial Android scanners from reputable manufacturers include this capability. It is worth confirming OCR or text scanning support when specifying hardware for a deployment where this feature will be used. Scanners sourced through Insight Works for use with Warehouse Insight are vetted to support this functionality.
Integration with Barcode Rules
The text captured through this method is processed by Warehouse Insight’s Barcode Rules engine in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, the same rules-based configuration that governs how all scanned data is interpreted. This means the application can be configured to parse and map specific text patterns to item numbers, lot numbers, or other fields automatically, providing a consistent experience whether the data comes from a barcode or directly from printed text. The Barcode Rules engine is flexible enough to handle a wide variety of text formats and data structures without requiring custom development.
Relevant Tools
Warehouse Insight is the full-featured WMS from Insight Works that includes the text scanning capability. The Barcode Rules configuration within Business Central governs how scanned text is interpreted and mapped to inventory fields. In summary, text scanning is a fully available, production-ready feature in the current version of Warehouse Insight that removes one of the most common barriers to getting started with barcode-based warehouse management in Business Central.