Camera barcode scanner on the POS

The Camera barcode scanner turns any phone, tablet or laptop camera into a barcode scanner on the web POS. Tap the camera button next to product search in POS V1 or POS V2, point at the barcode, and the product goes into the cart just as if you had used a hand scanner. It is ideal for small shops, market stalls, pop-up counters and staff selling from a tablet on the floor.

How to turn it on

1. 1Plan: Included in every plan.
2. 2Switch: On by default. Settings › Business Settings › POS › Camera barcode scanner › Show camera barcode scanner.
3. 3Permission: No extra permission. Anyone who can open the POS can use it.

Mobile app: The SmartPOS Business app has its own built-in scanner on the Sell screen.

Turn it on or off

1. Open Settings › Business Settings and click the POS tab.
2. Find Camera barcode scanner.
3. Tick or untick Show camera barcode scanner.
4. Click Update Settings.

/business/settings

The switch is on for new businesses. Turn it off to hide the camera button for everyone.

Everyday use: scan with the camera

1. Open the POS (V1 or V2) on your phone, tablet or laptop.
2. Tap the camera button next to the product search box (Scan with camera).
3. The first time, your browser asks for camera access. Tap Allow.
4. Point the back camera at the barcode inside the frame. You hear a beep and the phone vibrates (where supported).
5. The scanner shows Added: product name. In single mode it closes; with Continuous on it keeps scanning.
6. If you see Not found: code, the code is not in your products. Staff with the right permission get the add-or-link window (see Product barcodes).
7. If Several products match, the scanner closes so you can pick the right one from the POS list.

/pos-v2/create

The camera button sits right next to product search on POS V2 (and on POS V1).

Scanner controls

Control	What it does
Continuous	Keep scanning item after item. Remembered on that browser. The same code is ignored for a moment while it stays in view, so you don’t add it twice by accident.
Flashlight	Turns on the torch, on devices that support it (mostly Android Chrome).
Switch camera	Shown when the device has more than one camera.
Close	Stops the camera. The camera also stops when you switch apps or tabs.

Weighing-scale labels work too: when the POS setting Enable weighing scale is on with a label prefix, a scanned scale label adds the item with its weight.

When the camera does not start

Message	What to do
Camera access is blocked	Allow the camera for the site. iPhone/iPad (Safari): tap aA in the address bar › Website Settings › Camera › Allow. Chrome: tap the icon left of the address › Permissions › Camera › Allow. Then tap Try again.
No camera was found on this device.	Use a device with a camera, or a hand scanner.
The camera is being used by another app.	Close the other app (video call, camera app) and try again.
The camera only works on a secure (https) connection.	Open SmartPOS Hub from its normal web address.
This browser cannot use the camera.	Update to the latest Safari or Chrome.

Tip

Good light and holding the code flat about 15 to 20 cm from the camera gives the fastest reads. Barcodes are read as printed, so a product saved with a 12-digit UPC is not found by its 13-digit EAN form; add the other form as an additional barcode.

In the SmartPOS Business app

The staff app has its own scanner: the scan button next to Search or scan a product on the Sell screen. It does not depend on the web setting above.

The Business app scanner on the Sell screen.

Related pages

Product barcodes

POS V2

Scanner in the Business app

Devices and printers

All modules