Introduction

Have you ever noticed how the price of any product is ascertained? Whether it be a convenience store, chemist, department stores, shopping malls, or even bakeries, the price of a product is identified with its ‘barcode’. So, what exactly is a barcode and how can you leverage this technology to provide detailed information about your product seamlessly? This blog will take you through the ins and outs of a barcode, its purpose, importance, and finally guide you on the barcode creation process for your products. 

Understanding Barcodes

Barcodes are a format of representing product data that can be read by machines. There are 2 types of barcodes – 1D and 2D. 1D barcodes are made up of a series of black and white parallel lines with spaces in between. 2D barcodes consist of black and white patterns of squares and dots arranged in a grid format. 2D and can have URLs to the product/manufacturer’s website. Depending on your need and industry requirements, you can opt for either of them. 

Let us now understand and learn the types of 1D and 2D barcode formats that are used and accepted internationally – 

1D Formats 

GTIN-13 (EAN-13) – European Article Number (EAN) is a barcode number symbology, EAN-13 is its type which has 13-digits for product identification. It is an internationally accepted and recognised symbology. 

GTIN-8 (EAN-8) – EAN-8 also comes under the EAN symbology, it consists of 8-digits and is applied on products with limited space. 

GTIN-12 (UPC-A) – Universal Product Code (UPC) is a barcode symbology, UPC-A contains 12-digits and is used to identify products, similar to EAN. UPC is widely used, specifically in North America. 

UPC-E – UPC-A is similar to EAN-8 and is used to identify smaller products.

GS1-128  – GS1-128 barcode is used in the logistic units. It encodes Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) and can also contain additional information like expiry date, manufacturing date, serial number, and weight. 

2D Formats 

QR Codes  – QR code is a type of 2D barcode which can contain more information in comparison to a linear barcode. It can also encode URL and direct consumers to the official site of the product, website, or any other landing page. Additionally, a QR code can be scanned through phones making the information easily and quickly accessible to all. 

GS1 DataMatrix Barcode – This 2D barcode can contain more information in lesser space. This is used primarily in the healthcare sector and is not scanned at point-of-sale. 

Barcodes play a crucial role in promoting a safer, transparent and more robust supply chain of products both at the domestic and international level. They help in quick identification of products and facilitate inventory management, track and trace, product recalls and transparency in product information. Consequently, it is very necessary for manufacturers to register for barcodes and start applying them on their products.

Getting a Barcode Number 

If you want to get a barcode number for your products you can visit GS1 India’s website – Register for Barcodes page. GS1 India is the only authorised provider of barcodes in India. The barcodes provided by GS1 India are standardised, structured and interoperable. Upon completion of your registration process, you will receive your allotment letter and Global Company Prefix (GCP) within 7-10 working days. With the GCP you can create your Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) on the DataKart platform. 

A barcode has four components, first being the country code, ‘890’ is the country code of India. After that comes the company code. The combination of country code and company code is termed as GCP, which will uniquely identify products of your company. Product code is provided by the company depending on the number of barcodes the company is registered for. Last digit is a check digit which is a computer generated digit calculated using a mathematical algorithm to validate the composition of a barcode. 

The Barcode Registration Process: Step-by-Step 

Step 1: Once you open GS1 India’s ‘Register for Barcodes’ page you will be required to fill the barcode registration form. In the form, you will be asked to provide your company details, contact details, and other additional information,

Step 2: While filling the form you will have to provide necessary documents like proof of your company existence, PAN card copy and P & L page. 

Step 3: Select the number of barcodes you need. There are four subscription models – 100, 1000, 10000 and 100000, it is suggested you consider your company’s current and future requirements before you select the number as this can not be renewed once you are registered. 

Step 4: Choose your payment mode, pay the fees and submit the form. 

Step 5: You will receive the confirmation with an allotment letter within 7-10 working days. 

Generating GTINs for Your Products 

Once you receive your GCP you can start generating GTINs for your products. Each product variant – different size, colour, texture etc. will have a separate GTIN. No different products can carry the same GTIN, doing so will undermine the concept of unique identification of products. 

You will get access to the DataKart platform to generate GTINs. After logging in to DataKart, you will have to provide your product information, once the product information is approved and validated by the GS1 India data quality team you can publish it. DataKart is a nationalised product data repository that stores all the information about products. Smart Consumer app, an application developed to empower consumers with authentic product information,  also sources information from the DataKart platform. 

Printing and Applying Your Barcode

After generating your GTINs, you can print and apply those on your products. Please note the following in order to ensure your barcode is readable at all times – 

• Use high-resolution artwork and high-resolution printing to make sure the barcodes are easily read by scanners. 
• Select dark colours like black for bars and white colour for the background. 
• Ensure your barcode has enough spaces and ‘quiet zones’ at each end.
• Avoid applying the barcode on the edge of the product as it may get truncated in the process, impacting the readability. 
• It is suggested that you check your barcode before going for mass barcode production. Use a scanner to check if the test barcode is being properly scanned. 

Conclusion 

Barcodes play a very important role in streamlining operations, enforcing accountability and maintaining transparency in the supply chain. Manufacturers should step forward and embrace this technology to promote global standardisation. With barcodes, your products will be uniquely identified which will empower you and the end consumers in making informed decisions.