Product Barcodes – get it right the first time
There are so many different ways to use barcodes within a business that it would be ludicrous not to invest in them. Here are some insights to which is the correct one for your business.
Selling a new product in South Africa is not easy. Besides dealing with the product design, you are constantly in touch with retailers and distributors, trying to get your product out there as far and wide as possible. To help you with this, your products must be barcoded with registered barcodes. They are useful tools that you can use to raise your product’s profile and ensure financial success. There are so many different ways to use barcodes within a business that it would be ludicrous not to invest in them. However, which barcodes would be the best to buy for your specific business needs? There are so many different kinds of barcodes out there that it is sometimes difficult to determine which would be the best option.
One-dimensional retail barcodes
There are two main types of barcodes: one-dimensional and two-dimensional codes. 1D codes are the simple, rectangular codes that we are all familiar with. They appear on all products we find at the shops, and when scanned at the till they make that all too familiar beep as the item appears on your till slip. They are not just used to sell products, but also to keep track of inventory from when the product is made to when it is sold. Most retailers will not accept new products on their shelves without these specially registered barcodes.
2D codes are more complex barcodes that are able to hold much more information than a few digits. The most common 2D code, the Quick Response (QR) code, is able to store more than 7000 characters – letters or numbers. They have many uses within and outside of the retail environment, from redirecting users to specific websites, to allowing instant payments from our smartphones.
The two most popular 1D retail barcodes are the EAN-13 and UPC-A standards. These barcodes originated from the USA but have since spread throughout the world. The truth is that they are actually the same code and are often used interchangeably. The sole difference between the two is that the EAN barcode is one digit longer. Most retailers prefer this code as it is far more versatile within the retail setting. However, it is best to check with your specific retailers before your full print run in order to make sure which barcodes they would prefer. Every size and variation of your product will require its own unique retail code.
Investing in retail barcodes will save you both time and money. They lower the amount of human error within the retail environment and in this way, limit the amount of profit lost through errors. They will also encourage more retailers to stock your products, which in turn will increase your exposure. More people will come to know and love your products, which will boost your financial success and ensure that your business is sustainable in the long run.
If you are planning on selling very small products, such as pencils or paintbrushes, you may opt for the EAN-8 barcode. This code is simply a shortened version of the more popular EAN code. It is specially designed to be able to fit on very small products.
Other one-dimensional codes that new business owners often invest in are ITF-14 codes. These box or case codes are linked to the product’s EAN code and allow for the supply of your products in bulk. Having box barcodes makes it much easier for retailers to accept your products in bulk. Some retailers require these specific codes in order to stock your products. However, other retailers will be happy with the EAN or UPC codes only.
How to get barcodes for your business
There are several options for how to buy registered barcodes for your business. Some people opt to get their codes through GS1 South Africa. This is the governing body that controls the world of retail barcodes. However, this route can take a long time and is a more costly exercise. Buying codes through the GS1 South Africa requires that you become a member of their organisation. This requires yearly renewal fees on top of your first off payment. In addition, it will take more than a week for you to receive your assigned barcode numbers.
A very popular method small to medium-sized businesses use to buy registered barcodes is through a barcode reseller. These are companies that have sourced bulk barcodes directly from the international barcodes database and are selling these codes within South Africa and abroad. Barcode resellers do not require any form of registration or any additional fees, and are an affordable and quick alternative for smaller businesses.
One of the most popular of these local barcode resellers is Barcodes Solutions. We provide unique barcodes that are registered on the international barcodes database, where users will be able to search for your barcode to confirm that it is indeed associated with your unique product. All our barcodes come with a certificate of authentication guaranteeing that you are the sole owner and sole user of your barcodes.
After receiving your barcodes (usually within the hour!), you can then integrate them into your products in two ways. Firstly, you can include the code within the product packaging. Or, you can print these codes onto labels or stickers which can then be manually attached to each product.
Buying registered barcodes for your business has never been so simple. Investing in barcodes for your business will further legitimise your product within the retail environment and give you confidence as you distribute your product far and wide.
