The barcode is an image made up of a set of parallel lines that contain the information necessary to uniquely and unequivocally identify a product. To find out what types exist and how to generate a barcode, keep reading this post!
When you start a business, you come into contact with terms like “SKU”, “conversion”, “sales funnel”, “barcodes”, etc. It may seem overwhelming at first, but you don’t have to worry! We are here to help you with all these issues.
All of these (and many others) are going to become part of your everyday language, and the sooner you learn them and their benefits, the better for your brand.
Today we are going to talk about barcodes: those lines that appear on almost all the products that we use every day and that store a world of information.
In this specialized guide, we are going to explore what a barcode is, what it is for and how to make one, as well as the benefits of using them and the types that exist. Let’s get started!
What is the barcode and what is it for?
The barcode is a universal code that is made up of a series of scannable vertical lines (and sometimes numbers as well) and is used to identify a product. This image composed of lines and spaces of different thickness represents character strings.
Each item sold and its respective variations — such as sizes or colors — have a unique code. Generating barcodes serves to identify and recognize articles in a unique, global and unambiguous way.
In turn, this unequivocal identification of the products allows the logistics chain to be optimized and a much more accurate and clear process to be carried out.
The barcode has been in operation in Argentina since 1984, when the Argentine Chamber of Supermarkets developed the first in the country. These unique and standardized codes are officially issued by GS1 Argentina to be recognized anywhere in the world.
📜 Extra fact: to learn more about the history of the barcode in Argentina, we bring you closer.
Among the most outstanding functions of the barcode are the following:
- provide information about the products,
- identify the country and manufacturer and
- track products.
Benefits of using barcodes
Although the use of the bar code is not mandatory in Argentina, it is essential for those companies that seek to sell their products in large commercial chains and .
Among the main benefits of using barcodes are:
- Identify the rise and fall of product sales.
- Track inventory and account for parts.
- Facilitate and speed up payment in physical stores.
- Streamline labeling, distribution and storage processes.
- Improve the registration of sales.
- Identify missing parts (possible theft or loss).
Did you imagine that these codes that we see daily, in a large part of the products that we consume and use, can have so many uses and benefits? Now let’s take a closer look at a barcode and understand the information it stores.
What information does a barcode have?
At first glance, a barcode may seem like a bunch of lines and numbers without much meaning, but the reality is that the thickness of the bars and their distribution have a reason for being.
Take a good look at the following example and then, I discovered what meaning each digit has.
- Country code: indicated by the first three digits (for Argentina, for example, it is 779)
- Code of the manufacturing company: it has five digits and is assigned by GS1 Argentina.
- Product key: can be from two to five digits and is assigned by the company (the combination can vary infinitely depending on the segment and the item).
- Verification digit: it is the last number and, when scanned, it indicates the veracity of the code.
Do you need like this? We have the solution! We invite you to try our free tool to create all you need:
You have already seen how to make a barcode and the previous example is one of the most common, but it is not the only one. Next we will know the different types of codes that exist.
Barcode Types
Did you know that there are more than 100 types of barcodes in the world? The main differences between them are in the use of letters and numbers, in the size of their bars and in the number of characters they contain.
In this section, we are going to review the four types of linear barcodes most used in Argentina and two two-dimensional codes that you surely know.
Linear barcodes
Linear barcodes are also called one-dimensional and there are four main types:
- EAN code
- UPC code
- ITF Code
- Code 128
EAN code
EAN or EAN 13 is the International Article Number, although its original name was European Article Number (“European article number”, in Spanish). It originated in Europe in 1979 and today it is used all over the world.
The EAN code, also called GTIN or GTIN13 (for Global Trade Identifier, or “global exchange identifier”), has 13 digits with the structure 1-6-6. That means there is one number to the left of the bars and two groups of six numbers below it.
There is a variation called EAN 8, ideal for small products with little space such as candy or pencils, for example.
EAN codes are universal codes that are used in most products that we find in supermarkets.
UPC code
The Universal Product Code or UPC, for its acronym in English, emerged in the United States in the fifties. Today it is the official code in Canada, New Zealand, Europe and the United States.
It is mainly used in the products that we find in supermarkets and self-service stores.
There are two types of UPC codes:
- UPC-A barcode: It is 12 digits long, can be read in any direction and always starts with a 0.
- UPC-E barcode: It is a simplified version of the UPC-A, since it has eight digits and is used on small products.
ITF Code
The ITF is a barcode that takes its name from Interleaved Two of Five (“interlaced two of five”, in Spanish). It is mainly used in logistics environments, to identify cardboard boxes or pallets that contain products with EAN or UPC codes.
ITF information is encoded according to the width and spaces of its bars. It is important to note that two out of five of its bars are always wide (hence its name). This code has six digits that can only be numbers.
Code 128
Code 128 is a linear barcode that is usually wider than the previous three. It is capable of encoding the 128 characters of the ASCII code —numbers, letters and other characters— property from which it takes its name.
Code 128 is widely used in the commercial distribution, medical and food industries.
Two-dimensional codes
Two-dimensional or matrix codes were created to represent information visually, making it fast and error-proof to read. The most used are:
- QR code
- Data matrix code
QR code
The QR, from the English Quick Response barcode (in Spanish, “quick response code”) is the evolution of the barcode. It is a quadrangular code that has squares in three of its corners, which allow the reader to detect the position of the code.
These codes can be scanned using the smartphone camera to provide direct access to some content, such as a website, your , a text, a document or a specific page in the app store.
QR codes can also generate the storage of a card or the connection to a wireless network.
The QR code is available to everyone and is increasingly used by businesses of all kinds, to share information and content with their customers in their , for example.
The possibilities here are truly endless. You can compose a QR code with a link to your brand or a restaurant menu, even a product in the online store or its number.
💡 Pro Tip: We invite you to try our free QR code generator. You will be able to create all the codes you need and download an exclusive infographic that shows you very creative ways to use a QR.
Data matrix code
Another type of two-dimensional barcode is the Datamatrix or Data Matrix. It stores a large amount of information in a very small format, which can be obtained quickly and safely without having to access a database.
Its most common application is on very small objects and it can be marked on paper, plastic, metal or glass, either with a label or engraved directly on the material.
Datamatrix codes are used in the automotive, pharmaceutical and microelectronic industries, mainly.
Those are just a few of the linear and two-dimensional barcodes out there. How many of them did you already know?
What is the difference between SKU and barcode?
Sometimes the barcode is confused with the SKU, but it is important to know that they have completely different functions.
As we saw above, the barcode is a code made up of lines and spaces (and sometimes also numbers and letters) that serves to identify a product globally.
On the other hand, the SKU (Stock Keeping Unit, or “Stock Maintenance Unit”) is an identification code that is used internally in a company. This one does not have bars, only letters and numbers and its main objectives are:
- Assist in inventory control.
- Facilitate human reading.
Here we approach you. Safety pin! ✨
Is it mandatory for a product to have a barcode?
The answer to this question depends on the country you are in and where you plan to sell your products. In Argentina, for example, the law does not oblige brands to put barcodes on their products. The short answer would be no, it is not required.
The use of the barcode in Argentina will often depend on your clients and the sector of your business. For example, if you wanted to sell in a department store or self-service store, it is essential that the labels of your products have an official barcode.
Another important point to note is that often the fact of seeing a barcode on a package generates more confidence in consumers.
How to generate a barcode?
For a barcode to be considered official and to be recognized both in Argentina and in the rest of the world, it is imperative that it has been issued by GS1 Argentina. We bring you the step by step to generate a barcode:
- Enter the .
- Click on “Get your Barcodes now”.
- Manage the user registration with your information…
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