5 Easy Steps to Buy Barcodes for Your Products
Introduction
The elements of barcodes include they are very crucial in the running of business organizations today especially in tracking of stocks and also in checking out. This piece is very important especially for any person who is in a position of overseeing a new enterprise or a small business venture. This article will help you to follow five simple steps on how to get barcodes for your products, making your business smooth.
Step 1: Understand the Importance of Product Barcodes
Before going any further in the process to buy barcodes it is relevant to look at their importance in detail. A product barcode is a unique number that is assigned to a product to help in stock management, sales records of the products, and check out to customers. It is best suited for retail and logistics industries, which makes it a must-have for any organization that wants to grow big.
Step 2: Choose the Right Barcode Type
It is important to point out that there are many types of barcodes and that each is used for a specific purpose. UPC (Universal Product Code) and EAN (European Article Number) are perhaps the most popular barcodes. UPC barcodes are found predominantly in the USA while EAN barcodes are in circulation in the rest of the world. Barcodes fall under two main categories, and you need to identify which one is most suitable for your product in the market. Also, it is important to observe the requirements of the retailers or distributors, which might have their preferences concerning the kind of barcodes to be used.
Step 3: Obtain a GS1 Company Prefix
In order to buy barcodes, one must first apply for a GS1 Company Prefix. GS1 is the worldwide body that sets the rules for barcodes . The Company Prefix is an identifying code that has to be included into your business name. On the GS1 website, you can create an application for the Company Prefix and provide your business information together with the necessary payment for the request. This prefix will be included in the barcode number of each of the barcode that you will generate, so that every one of the products that you will sell can be distinguished from the others.
Step 4: Generate and Assign Barcodes
If you are already owning your own GS1 Company Prefix, you can then proceed in generating codes and assigning the appropriate barcodes to your products. There are many programs that exist on the market which can be used for the purpose of generating barcodes for your needs. When creating barcodes, it is also necessary to know with which barcode does it correspond to which product. Another important recommendation is to keep a well-organized and up-to-date record of the data collected so that there is no repetition and the information obtained is accurate. Some of the software solutions also include an interface with your Inventory tracking system to make the process of managing your barcodes easy.
Step 5: Purchase and Print Barcodes
It is only after you have created your barcodes that you can then proceed and buy them and have them printed. Some of the steps that you need to take are as follows: You can either print the barcodes on your own by using a barcode printer or you can buy pre printed barcode labels from a reputed vendor. Make sure that the barcodes can be easily read so that they can scanned. Low-quality barcodes can be a major issue when it comes to scanning and can halt your inventory and sales systems. It is recommended to first test a few samples before going into large scale printing in order to determine the quality of the final prints.
Conclusion
Purchasing barcodes for your products is actually very simple if you follow these five fundamental steps. It is pertinent to comprehend the significance of product barcode and select the right type of barcodes, acquire a GS1 Company Prefix, generate and allocate barcodes, and finally purchase them and get them printed. Thus, you are confident that the product is in a proper state for selling which enhances its circulation within the retail outlets. Start today and take advantage of bar codes in the overall running of your business.
