Stock Labeling Fundamentals: SKUs, UPCs, EANs

The barcode was first scanned in 1974, on a packet of Juicy Fruit gum. Since then, the know-how utilized in scanning merchandise within the retail market has turn into commonplace. In right this moment’s ecommerce area, a labeling system is vital. Retailers ought to implement it as quickly as doable.

Whereas many use the phrases “SKU” and “UPC” interchangeably, they’re really very totally different. First off, an SKU (inventory holding unit) is strictly for inner use. A UPC (common product code) is affixed to a product wherever it’s bought within the retail market place. An SKU is the smallest unit of services or products. Since an SKU is exclusive to an organization, a product would have totally different SKUs if bought by totally different corporations — however they might have the identical UPC.

Whereas many use the phrases “SKU” and “UPC” interchangeably, they’re really very totally different.

SKU Fundamentals

Let’s begin with SKUs. They’re utilized by corporations to account for product in stock and items of billable entities bought. SKUs assist corporations to effectively monitor the numbers of particular person variants of product or providers bought. They aren’t to be confused with the mannequin variety of a product, though mannequin numbers and attributes are sometimes included in all or a part of an SKU.

An SKU is alphanumeric and used for inner functions. Picture: Barcoding.com.

An SKU ought to be distinctive to your organization. You may print a label that shows the SKU within the human readable kind and likewise as a barcode for the needs of scanning.

Don’t use a producer’s SKU as yours. For those who resell merchandise sourced from a producer, it might change the barcodes or you might supply the product from a unique producer. If that occurs, your SKU is out of sync and should be up to date.

SKUs are usually utilized by warehouses or success facilities, catalogues, ecommerce platforms, and marketplaces. There are numerous methods to establish your SKU. In my expertise, corporations typically complicate their SKUs and make them too lengthy.

You may definitely embody attributes comparable to shade, measurement, fashion, date bought, producer or location bought, price, situation, and warehouse location. I recommend eight alphanumeric characters for SKUs. Amazon permits you to embody as much as 40 characters in an SKU. However understand that Amazon doesn’t obtain, put away, or choose out of your SKU. Amazon’s assigns an ASIN (Amazon commonplace identification quantity), which is a singular set of ten alphanumeric characters.

SKU Dos and Don’ts

Take into account what function the SKU serves, and the viewers. Your resolution ought to be tailor-made to fulfill the viewers’s wants. Listed here are some primary do and don’ts.

• Do preserve it for inner use solely.
• Do preserve it easy sufficient to be understood by a fifth grader.
• Do preserve it quick, however not so quick that it’s confused with a amount.
• Do begin with letter(s). It’s simpler to discern and kind in spreadsheets and kind throughout receiving, put away, and choosing.
• Don’t reuse the SKU for a unique product.
• Don’t begin with a zero or use characters or symbols that may be complicated or misinterpret by people or software program.
• Don’t use numbers or letters — use each.
• Don’t use a producer’s serial or half quantity to your SKU. These numbers are sometimes too lengthy and cryptic. Plus, when you swap suppliers or the producer adjustments the quantity, it turns into meaningless to your group.
• Don’t load merchandise numbers with which means — i.e., don’t attempt to use the merchandise quantity to explain your product. This may solely make your numbers longer, and extra sophisticated. Save this data for the merchandise description.

UPC Fundamentals

You shouldn’t want a UPC except your product goes to enter the retail area. If, nevertheless, you want a UPC, listed below are some fundamentals.

The UPC code is affixed to a product wherever it’s bought, remaining a relentless all through the product’s shelf life. Since an SKU is exclusive to the corporate, the identical product would have totally different SKUs if bought by totally different corporations, however they might have the identical UPC. UPCs are 12 digits, numeric solely.

UPCs should be bought to make sure that the identical two units of numbers should not issued to multiple firm. Many UPC suppliers promote them on-line and, for essentially the most half, achieve this with integrity. However be cautious.

The authority for sustaining requirements is GS1 (previously the Uniform Product Code Council). That group is the very best supply to help assembly any compliance necessities. The EAN (European article quantity) serves the identical function because the UPC and has 13 digits. Test along with your retailer to find out if the UPC can be utilized within the applicable nation or if it should be modified.

Briefly, do not forget that SKUs are for inner use. UPCs are for exterior or common use.