Cost • Though barcode technology once carried a high price tag, the proliferation of barcodes and availability of inexpensive equipment have made barcodes affordable for almost any organization. Even small businesses can download barcode fonts from the Internet, often for free, and begin labeling packages and inventory. Many smartphones now include apps that scan and interpret barcodes, and users can download barcode applications for free from a number of sources. In a large organization, barcode technology can be significantly cheaper to deploy than other inventory control methods.