Add Items Fast by Scanning Their Barcode
The reason most home inventories never get finished is that entering everything by hand is tedious. Barcode scanning cuts the work: point your phone at a product's barcode and Stowly looks it up and fills in the details, so adding an item takes seconds instead of a paragraph of typing. It's the difference between an inventory you start and one you actually complete.
Typing is why inventories die
Every abandoned home inventory dies the same way: the person gets three rooms in, realises how much typing is left, and quietly stops. Scanning removes the friction that causes that. When adding an item is a two-second scan rather than a form to fill, you keep going — and an inventory you finish is worth infinitely more than a tidy one you gave up on.
How barcode scanning works
- Start a new item and tap to scan.
- Point your phone's camera at the product's barcode.
- Stowly looks up the code and fills in the product details for you.
- Add a photo and your price, and you're on to the next one.
Best for the boxed and the brand-new
Scanning shines on anything that still has its packaging or a product label — electronics, appliances, tools, boxed goods. For the newest additions to your home, it's the quickest possible way to get them catalogued while the box is still in front of you.
Part of a faster way to add
- Scan a barcode to pull in product details automatically.
- Works from your phone, where you're already standing next to the item.
- Combine it with quick-add and templates to catalogue a room in one sitting.
- Fewer keystrokes means you're far more likely to finish the job.
Questions
What happens when I scan a barcode?
Stowly looks up the product code and fills in the item's details for you, so you don't have to type them — you just add a photo and your price.
Does it work on everything?
It works best on items with a scannable barcode — electronics, appliances, tools, and boxed goods. For things without a barcode, quick-add and templates keep entry fast.
Do I need my phone?
Scanning uses your device's camera, so a phone is the natural fit — and it's where you're usually standing next to the thing you're cataloguing anyway.
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