Video | Scanning Items During a Check (1:50)
Overview
During an inventory item check in the Crew App, crew members can confirm items three ways: by scanning a barcode or QR code label, by entering an item number on the keypad (Item Check), or by tapping items in the Inventory List.
All three methods can be used interchangeably within the same check, switch between them at any time based on what works best for the items you are working through.
Scanning is especially useful on large jobs where working through a long list manually is time-consuming.
Before You Start
Inventory scanning must be enabled for your account. The Scan tab only appears when scanning has been turned on under Settings > Crew App > Descriptive Inventory. Contact your administrator if the Scan tab is not visible.
Items must have barcode or QR code labels applied before the check begins. Labels can be generated directly from the SmartMoving web app, or you can use labels from another source.
Check out these help articles to learn more about how to generate barcodes or QR labels in SmartMoving.
A check must already be started. To learn how to start a check, see How to Start and Abandon a Descriptive Inventory Check.
How to Scan Items During an Inventory Item Check
Open the Crew App and navigate to the relevant job.
Tap More Actions from the Inventory tab, then select Start Check.
Choose your check type and tap Start.
From the check screen, tap the scan icon or Scan button to activate scanning mode.
Your device camera will open.
Point the camera at the barcode or QR code label on the physical item.
Hold steady until the app reads the code.
The app matches the scanned code to the item and marks it as received in the check.
Continue scanning remaining items until the check is complete.
💡SmartTip: Scanning works well when moving through a space systematically, scan items as you physically move through the room or storage area rather than searching for specific items in the list. This keeps the check moving efficiently.
Switching Between Scanning, Item Check, and Inventory List
All three confirmation methods are available during the same check. You can switch between them at any point using the navigation at the top of the check screen.
Scanning
Point the device camera at a label to confirm the item instantly. Best for moving quickly through labeled items in a physical space, or when items are out of numerical order.
Item Check (Keypad Entry)
Type an item number using your device keypad. Best during unloading when items come off the truck out of numerical order.
Inventory List
Scroll through all items and tap to mark each one received. Best for a visual review of the full shipment.
💡 SmartTip: Use scanning for items that are labeled and easy to access, then switch to Item Check or Inventory List for any remaining items that are unlabeled or difficult to scan.
Scan Results and What They Mean
Result | What It Means |
Item confirmed | The scanned code matched an item in the check. The item card briefly animates on screen and the item is marked as received. The progress bar updates automatically. |
Unrecognized code | The scanned code did not match any item in the current check. An error message appears, verify you are scanning the correct label, or manually type the code directly into the scanner. If it still cannot be confirmed, locate the item using Item Check or Inventory List. |
Already scanned | The item was already confirmed earlier in the check. A prompt appears asking you to scan another code — no further action is needed for that item. |
If an item cannot be scanned successfully, you can manually type the code directly into the scanner.
If it still cannot be confirmed, use Item Check or Inventory List to locate and confirm it manually.
Flag unlabeled or damaged labels to your office team for re-labeling after the job.
Best Practices
Apply labels to all items before a job begins to ensure scanning works throughout the check without interruption.
Use the flashlight toggle in low-light storage spaces to improve scan accuracy.
If an item's label is damaged or missing, confirm it manually using Item Check or Inventory List, and flag it for re-labeling.
Scan items in the order they are physically located in the space to reduce backtracking.
Track your progress using the progress bar at the top of the check screen.