What barcode scanning does
Instead of squinting at a part number and typing it in, scan the UPC on the box. SideWRK reads it and, the first time, you give it a name — "drain pump," "R-410A," "brake rotor." From then on, every scan of that barcode recognizes the part, so you can bill it onto a job or restock the truck in one tap.
It's the same scanner that reads a VIN: mechanics scan the barcode in the door jamb or the windshield to pull the vehicle onto the job. One camera, no separate scanner gun. And to be clear — SideWRK doesn't guess the part name from a product database (most trade parts aren't in one), so you name it once and that's what it knows forever, which is more reliable for the parts you actually carry.
What you can use it for
Bill a part without typing its number
Scan the box and the part drops onto the invoice at your price — no reading a smudged OEM number off the label and hoping you got it right.
Restock the truck by scanning
Scan a part to add it to your inventory or adjust the count — faster than typing, and it keeps your truck stock accurate.
Name it once, scan it forever
The first scan of a new part, you name it. Every scan after that recognizes it instantly — no re-naming, no lookup.
Pull a vehicle by its VIN
Mechanics scan the VIN barcode on the vehicle and it lands on the job — year, make, and model without hand-typing seventeen characters.
How to scan a barcode
- 1
Point the camera at the barcode
Scan the UPC on the box or packaging — or the VIN barcode on the vehicle. The same scanner handles both.
- 2
Name it the first time
For a new part, give it a name that makes sense to you. SideWRK remembers it against that barcode.
- 3
Bill it or stock it
Add the part to the invoice at your price, or add it to your truck stock and set the count.
- 4
Scan it again next time
Every future scan of that barcode recognizes the part, so it's one tap to bill or restock — no typing, no re-naming.
Why scanning beats typing part numbers
Typing an OEM part number off a greasy box is slow and easy to fumble — one wrong digit and the invoice is wrong. A scan is instant and it's right. And because you name each part yourself the first time, it works for the parts you actually carry, not just the ones that happen to be in a consumer barcode database.
It's included, it uses the phone camera you already have, and it ties into the rest of the app — the part you scan is the part you bill, the part you stock, and the part that shows up in your real profit.
Barcode scanning — common questions
What can I scan?
UPC and EAN barcodes on parts and packaging, plus VIN barcodes on vehicles. The same phone-camera scanner reads both.
Does it look up the part name for me?
No. You name a new part the first time you scan it — most trade parts aren't in a consumer barcode database, so naming it yourself is more reliable. After that, every scan of that barcode recognizes it automatically.
Can I scan a part straight onto an invoice?
Yes. Scan it and it drops onto the job at your price, or scan it into your truck stock to add or adjust the count.
Do I need a separate scanner gun?
No — it uses your phone camera. Nothing extra to buy or carry.