A system for inventory scanning includes scanning devices for scanning information representing inventory items to produce input data for uploading to an inventory management system over a radio-access network, such as a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) wireless network. A scanner adapter, such as a web service adapter, is coupled to the inventory management system for transferring the input data from the scanning devices to the inventory management system. The adapter also receives control information from the inventory management system for delivery to the scanning devices. The control information is transferred to the scanning devices to manage inventory operations performed by the scanning devices, for example, operations that may be performed by and/or data that may be accessed by an identified individual user.