Why Barcode Gaps Are Normal
In real-world operations, barcodes are:
Pre-printed
Handed out to multiple technicians
Not always fully used
Sometimes damaged, lost, or saved for later
This naturally creates gaps in barcode numbers.
Those gaps are expected and meaningless.
Trying to interpret skipped numbers as missing contents leads to false alarms and wasted time.
What Barcodes Are Actually Used For
Barcodes exist to:
Uniquely link a physical box or item to a digital record
Allow fast scanning during:
Pack-out
Warehouse intake
Cleaning
Storage
Delivery
Prevent duplicate entries
Track handling history
That’s it.
What Barcodes Are Not Used For
Barcodes are not used to:
Confirm that all contents were captured
Detect missing items based on numeric gaps
Enforce or validate sequence order
Reconcile unused barcode numbers
A perfect numeric sequence provides zero operational value.
The Rule to Remember
Barcodes must be unique — not sequential.
If a box or item exists, it must be scanned once.
If a barcode number was never used, nothing is wrong.
Bottom Line
Do not hunt for missing barcode numbers.
Focus on scanning what physically exists.
Sequence gaps are normal and expected.