VDC Predicts Imagers Continue to Gain Share in North American Bar Code Scanning Market
(Business News, 16 Jan 2006 )
Recent research from Venture Development Corporation (VDC), an independent technology market research and strategy consulting firm, reveals a regional pattern in the uptake of imaging-based bar code scanning technology. In 2004, imaging technology in North America grew at more than double the rate of traditional laser-based scanning technology. In contrast, the Asia-Pacific region experienced strong growth in laser scanners in 2004. The growth of imagers in the North American market is a trend that appears to have continued in 2005 and is likely to spread across the regional and vertical markets in the coming years.
Although laser-based technology still comprises the majority of scanner revenues across all regions, the 2003-2004 growth rate for imagers in North America provides evidence that the gap between laser—and imaging-based scanner shipments may be closing. As with previous AIDC trends that originated in the US—such as POS bar code scanning in retail; 2D bar coding in manufacturing markets; and RFID for the supply chain—the emerging trend of imaging devices taking market share from laser-based technology is appearing in the US market.
In the North American market, imaging technology has been growing at a faster rate than laser technology for several years. However, the demand for imaging scanners may currently be competing more directly with laser scanners in both the handheld and stationary segments of that market. In the stationary scanning market, excluding POS scanners, laser scanners realized negative growth as imagers grew at record levels.
Although imaging-based scanners are beginning to capture incremental market share from laser-based scanners primarily in North America, that trend is increasingly prevalent in Europe. Currently both laser- and imaging-based scanning solutions are experiencing strong growth in Europe; however, imaging is gaining momentum, especially in the industrial/manufacturing vertical segment. The North American market may provide a preview of what is to come in the European (and eventually Asia-Pacific) markets.
