Article 2:Sabarcodes.co.za
PRODUCT BARCODES – THE PROCESS OF GETTING THEM REGISTERED FOR YOUR MERCHANDISE If you have a unique product and would like to register it for a unique barcode that will represent it in the market, the process can seem to be quite daunting and complicated, at least at the first glance. The concept of using product barcodes in the retail sector has drastically changed the way we do business and manage inventory. The job of stock taking, which used to be a long winded and tiring manual process is now smoothly managed through the use of technology. They can be used by companies to track and manage assets, manage packaging and transportation and keep updated records of inventory and sales. Let us look at the process you will have to follow to manage the registration of barcodes for products. Usually the first time you will even consider registering a product barcode when the item is complete and ready to be launched in the market. Most retailers, whether online or otherwise, will simply refuse to sell your merchandise unless it has a valid EAN or UPC barcode. There is an entity known as the GS-1 – a global distributor and regulator for barcodes that will have to be approached for the process to begin. The organisation offers unique 12 and 13 digit numbers that can then be translated into images (vertical bars with different sizes and spaces), be linked to specific products and finally be able to be scanned at retail stores - all with the purpose of speeding up the shopping experience. You might be enticed into considering creating your own barcode – after all, it is just a bunch of lines drawn in black and white. But this is where GS-1 comes into the picture. The entity works by providing unique barcodes for products that prevent duplication that can seriously disrupt the use of point-of-sales systems. Every country contains it's own division of GS1 providing UPC, EAN, EAN-8 and many other types of barcodes. Barcode resellers can be found online across the world providing EAN and UPC codes. So when you need to obtain a unique barcode to represent your product in the market, your national GS-1 agency is the one that you will have to approach for registration. The system is fairly standardised and the process for registration is also simple. In case you feel the need for professional help in getting a product barcode registered, you can also choose to work with barcode resellers that offer an even easier purchase and registration process and can even provide you with assistance for managing the formalities. Resellers often also sell auxiliary barcode services such as ISBN barcodes (for books), ISSN barcodes (for magazines and newspaper) and printed labels in addition to equipment such as specialised barcode printers and scanners. The task of finding the best barcode reseller is easily possible online. Just check up on the company credentials first before choosing to work with them. In case you need more information about online barcodes, visit Sabarcodes.co.za.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jennifer Greene is a post-graduate student in Business Management, who specializes in logistics, inventory, procurement and sales. She has written many articles on inventory management, and believes www.sabarcodes.co.za to be a very good source of information and online barcodes.