The Importance of bar Codes and How to use them

Bar codes were introduced to improve efficiency and speed, and they are still used for this purpose today. There are hundreds of barcodes today that have various uses for inventory tracking, retail, regulatory compliance, data acquisition, and more. GS1 is a global standards organization with more than 2 million member companies that maintain the standards for these barcodes. GS1 can help determine what kind of barcode you need, whether you need human-readable components, the capacity of the barcode, and so on, depending on what the barcode is scanned for.

The first step in creating a barcode is to know what is being scanned. If a bar code is scanned at a retail point of sale (POS), an UPC code is required. If you are selling goods online, you will need a Global Trade Item Code (GTIN) as well as an UPC code. For inventory and storage, you need specific barcodes that may encode more information along with the GTIN, such as lot/lot number, weight, expiration date, etc. To obtain the Global Trade Project Code, you can visit GS1's website to license and create one for your product.

The importance of barcodes

Barcodes really make the world go round and the supply chain go round. Over the years, the main functions have not changed, but they have become more extensive and complex, and their uses are endless. The main function of barcoding is to increase efficiency by preserving basic data and reduce errors from manual processes. As technology has improved, so have barcodes. One-dimensional linear barcodes will always be useful in supply chains, but we are starting to see two-dimensional matrix barcodes and composite barcodes used more in restaurants for additional advertising on menus or product packaging. This will only continue to drive efficiencies, improve the consumer experience with more data, and open up new barcode opportunities across multiple industries!

In the rapidly changing world of barcodes, it is important not only to have accurate barcodes, but also to have a true labeling partner with a long history in the industry, compliance and up-to-date software, and ongoing support. The need for better barcodes is greater than ever!