Barcode of Products at a glance

Documents requirements for Barcode Registration in India

What are the Different types of Barcodes?

Different application requires different barcodes with capability to hold different data. Therefore, to diverse requirements, Barcode system standards are used for that distinction between barcodes. Different types of barcode symbols are also distinction between different barcodes. Barcodes can be categorized into the following categories:

EAN/UPC FAMILY BARCODES

EAN/UPC (European Article Number/Uniform Product Code) Family of barcodes is instantly-recognizable barcodes that are printed on virtually every consumer product in the world. They are the longest-established and most widely-used of all barcodes. Used for Retail stores for sales checkout; inventory, etc.

DATABAR FAMILY BARCODES

DataBar barcodes are often used to label fresh foods. These barcodes can hold information like an item’s batch number or expiry date, in addition to other attributes used at the point-of-sale such the item weight.

1D BARCODES

128 and ITF-14 are highly versatile 1D barcodes that enable items to be tracked through global supply chains. The 128 barcode can carry any of the ID keys, plus information like serial numbers, expiration dates and more. The ITF-14 barcode can only hold the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) and is suitable for printing on corrugated materials.

2D BARCODES

Two-dimensional (2D) barcodes look like squares or rectangles that contain many small, individual dots. A single 2D barcode can hold a significant amount of information and may remain legible even when printed at a small size or etched onto a product. 2D barcode could do much more than just keep track of assets and inventory.

Today, 2D codes, especially QR codes, which can hold as much as 7,000 digits or 4,000 characters of text, are used by companies to share information or websites and videos with consumers, or by healthcare facilities to monitor medication, and even to integrate data with programs like MS Office, MS SQL Servers, and other databases and files.

2D barcodes are used in a wide range of industries, from manufacturing and warehousing to logistics and healthcare.

How does Barcodes Works?

Barcodes work through the combination of a symbology (the barcode) and a scanner that can read the symbols and convert them into useful information, often information about an item’s origin, price, type, and location. The scanner reads the barcode and automatically enters the information stored in it into a system – often some type of database.

This tool has provided many, many benefits for businesses. It paved the way for the globally connected distribution channels we now have and it is what allows big Departmental Stores like BigBazaar, Walmart, Pentaloon to ensure they have products properly stocked and priced around the stores located in all cities. It has also become a crucial tool to help small and medium businesses, as well as hospitals and government groups, keep track of assets and improve their efficiencies.

Some of the ways businesses use barcodes include:

1. Keeping track of inventory. A basic inventory tracking system consists of software and a barcode scanner or mobile computer. Inventory items (like products you sell, supplies, or raw materials) will all have barcode labels, so when you remove an item from stock, you just scan the barcode to reduce the available count in your inventory tracking software, instead of having to type in a SKU.
2. Keeping track of assets. Any business, no matter how large or small, has IT assets and fixed assets. Barcoded asset tags are attached to each individual asset, and can be scanned to check items in or out in your asset tracking software. It’s a great way to improve accountability and makes audits much easier.
3. Use barcodes in return mail. Add a barcode to the return-mail registration postcard that matches the product’s serial number, and then you can instantly track which serial numbers are registered, and which aren’t. Plus, your customers won’t have to locate and transcribe a lengthy serial number.
4. Include barcodes in a mail merge. If your company is hosting an event, you can add barcodes to an RSVP card so you can track who has responded – without trying to translate anyone’s handwriting.
5. Add barcodes to invoices. Add a barcode that represents the customer number or the individual invoice number so when it’s returned with payment, you can easily locate the customer account or invoice number. This will prevent problems like applying payments to the incorrect customer account or invoice.