Download MP3Seekt Quick Guide: Barcode Scan Items
Welcome to the Seekt Quick Guide series. In this episode, we are looking at barcode scan items — a challenge type that turns product finding into a game.
A barcode scan item works differently from other item types. Instead of taking a photo or typing an answer, the player scans a product's barcode with their phone's camera. The app checks it against the correct barcode that you stored when you designed the item.
Here is how you set one up. When creating an item, choose "Barcode Scan" as the answer mode. Write a clue that hints at the product without naming it directly — something like "this is used for baking cookies" for a bag of chocolate chips, or "you would find this in the medicine cabinet" for a box of bandages. Then tap the scan button and scan the target product's barcode with your phone. The app stores the barcode value.
You also set a maximum number of scan attempts. This is key. If you set it to five, the player gets five tries to scan the right barcode. Each wrong scan uses one attempt. If they run out, the item is marked as failed and they get zero points. This prevents players from walking down a shelf scanning everything until something matches. They have to actually think about the clue before scanning.
During gameplay, the player reads the clue, searches for the product, and opens the barcode scanner. If they scan the right barcode, they see a success screen with their points. If they scan the wrong one, they see how many attempts they have left and can try again.
This item type is perfect for grocery store hunts, retail events, household scavenger hunts, and educational activities. A chemistry teacher could write clues about chemical compounds and have students find the matching products. A brand could create a product discovery hunt at a trade show.
One tip: when writing clues, aim for a difficulty level where the player needs to think but is not completely stuck. "Something sweet that comes from bees" is a good clue. "Aisle seven, third shelf" is too easy.
That is "barcode scan items" in Seekt. For more, visit the seekt.ca website.