Barcode technology has definitely gone a long way. Sure, bigger stores have the capacity to buy those scanners that are not exactly cheap. But what about the small guys? The small business-owners who would like to maximize their initial capital on stocks instead of on expensive equipment?

That’s the great thing about smartphones. It has become such a handy tool that can help you out with almost anything, barcode scanning included. Products, tickets, employee IDs – name it, there’s probably an existing barcode app for it.

Here are five of the best barcode scanning apps in the market today:

Mobile Asset ($299)

This is one scanner that isn’t just perfect for product that you sell, but for asset inventories that you want to keep track of as well. It lets you capture images and signatures for easier tracking, and makes it easy for you to check assets in and out as people within your organization uses them. Currently the leading asset management app for small businesses, it works not only for Android and iOS smartphones, but on tablets as well.

Barcode Express Pro ($1.99)

Definitely a very cost-effective solution, Barcode Express Pro takes care of the basics, like scanning and tracking items. It’s not as high-tech as Mobile Asset, but it does the job if all you’re really after is the scanning feature. It’s perfect for home inventories. However, this is only available for Android users.

Time Station (Free)

This time, this barcode scanning app isn’t for products or home inventories. The Time Station is still a barcode technology, but is used to attendance and time tracking. It’s perfect for small businesses that track their employee billing by the hour. Although it’s for free, only Android users have the privilege of using it at the moment.

Entry Manager (Free)

Available both on iOS and Android, Entry Manager scans an keeps track of tickets for you. This makes it very easy for you to manage logistics if you’re in the event management business. It helps you cut those lines short and avoid having a pileup at the entry point, making your event flow more seamless and enjoyable for those coming in.

Stock Control ($1.99)

Another inventory management tool, Stock Control is only available for iOS users and would have to be synced with your iTunes or iCloud. It doesn’t just allow you to keep track of your stocks, it even alerts you in case you have any shortage of anything on your inventory. You can easily customize categories and attributes as well, making your inventory very organized.

These are just a few of the bestsellers on the barcode tech list. You can always find other barcoding solutions in case any of these fail to meet your specific needs. Truly, smartphones have gone a long way from being mere mobile phones used for texting or calling. It has become not only a solid tool for communication, it has also become a valuable tool for small business owners and professionals who want their lives more productive, more efficient, and more manageable.