Inventory reconciliation with RSS Chemicals is a separate process from adding or deleting chemical containers from your group's chemical inventory. Scanners are used to read container bar codes. The data is then downloaded to a spreadsheet which can then be uploaded into your RSS Chemical Inventory.
Scanner Types
The barcode labels affixed to chemical containers have either a 2-D (QR code), an RF (radiofrequency code), or both. The newer labels have both types so either scanner can be used to do a reconciliation. There are advantages to each type. An RF scanner can read many barcodes at time while the QR code scanner can be more precise.
These scanners are not connected to RSS Chemicals software and cannot add or delete chemicals in your inventory, which is a separate process.
Scanner Report
The scanner downloads the data into a spreadsheet. The Lab Group Owner or delegate must log into RSS Chemicals before they can upload the scanner data spreadsheet into the Group's chemical inventory. For instructions on how to upload the spreadsheet into your inventory and read the data, select one of the links below.
How to Upload and Read the Spreadsheet for Inventory Reconciliation
Tutorial: Moving Your Chemical Inventory to a New Lab Space
Back to RSS Chemicals Webpage
Reconciliation Tips
What does a status of Unscanned mean? RFID tags not scanned during the reconciliation scanning process. (These may be containers that have been removed, disposed of, failed to be taken out of the inventory, or did not get scanned.)
- This is an issue with RFID scanners because they can scan many barcodes at once. Containers that are in the back of cabinets or shelves can be missed.
- QR Code scanners can only scan one barcode at a time.
What to do to reconcile "unscanned" status containers? Confirm that these chemical containers still exist and/or are present in your lab space.
- If the answer is "no", one or more of these containers are gone (e.g., went into waste), then you can delete the discarded ones from your inventory in RSS.
- If the answer is "yes", I do have these containers in my lab (e.g., barcodes were missed during the scan), then you need to scan these particular containers again to remove the "unscanned" status in your inventory reconciliation.
Batch Delete Containers with "Unscanned" Status
For a 2D barcode scanner reconciliation, there is a function that allows you to batch delete unscanned (status) containers.
For an RFID scanner reconciliation, there is no such batch delete option at this time, though I believe RSS has it in their development queue. It you have confidence that the scan was comprehensive and didn't miss any barcodes, then someone will have to manually go into the web browser version of Chemicals, go to the inventory that was scanned, and look up each individual barcode, then delete the associated container.