Barcodes have become a popular system for tracking products, both for inventory management and for sales. They are not designed to replace the serial codes used to identify the specific product. Rather, they are intended to categorize items by manufacturer, type, size, model, and price. Examples of the application of barcodes are one-liter bottles of a certain drink: there is no way to identify a single specific bottle of that drink through the barcode. It is important that when the cashier scans the barcode, the cash register recognizes the manufacturer, type, size, model and price of the item. With the following tips you can learn how to buy a barcode.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Purchase a Unique Barcode for Your Company
Step 1. Determine if you only need a single barcode
If it is only for the manufacturer to trace the production process and to manage the warehouse, the manufacturer is free to choose his own barcode. The International Barcode Organization states that this type of barcode cannot be a prerequisite for being sold by the manufacturer.
Step 2. The GS1
A non-profit organization, called GS1, sets the barcode standards adopted in global commerce. Scattered throughout the various countries or regions there are territorial offices of the GS1. To find the closest one, simply consult the GS1 website in the "Contact your local GS1 office" section. For Italy this office is in Milan. Otherwise, the barcodes can be purchased through some reliable resellers, who sell them individually without the need to bear the costs associated with the registration and membership fees to the Body.
Step 3. Join GS1
The GS1 membership form must be obtained and completed. This procedure takes about 5 days. GS1 membership requires payment of a fee.
Step 4. Pay an annual membership fee
To maintain membership in GS1, an annual fee must be paid, which is determined by GS1 based on the member's annual income and the number of individual products it markets. Hence, the annual fee is variable. To estimate the impact of this cost it is necessary to consult GS1 directly.
Step 5. Request the GS1 identification number
Registering with GS1 entails the right to be assigned an exclusive identification number for the registered company. This identification number is exclusively reserved and can only be used by that specific company. This number allows the registered company to create its own identification codes. A registered company needs a different identification code for each type of product it markets.
Step 6. Set up the barcode system
The identification number assigned by the GS1 is only part of the barcode. The barcode becomes a definitive universal product code (UPC from English "Universal Product Code"), only when the company defines the other numbers of the code, according to a scheme established by the same company to identify the type, size, model and price of the item. Each version of the product must have a specific barcode assigned.
Step 7. Register ID numbers with GS1
The company must notify GS1 of the barcode system it has adopted. After the registration of this system by GS1, the company should adopt it. Any changes or additions to the barcode system must be reported to GS1.
Method 2 of 2: Buy a Barcode Without Paying the Annual Costs
Step 1. Determine if you need a unique barcode
This is almost always the case with products intended for retail sale, since the vast majority of retailers require items in their stores to have a barcode.
Step 2. Determine if you need a UPC-A or EAN-13 barcode
UPC-A barcodes are usually used in the United States, while EAN-13 barcodes are predominant in the rest of the world. This means that a UPC-A barcode should only be chosen if the outlet market is predominantly the US, otherwise an EAN-13 code is preferable.
Step 3. Find a reputable barcode reseller who handles the type of code you need
These retailers provide perfectly regular barcodes for one payment. Many of these resellers carry both UPC-A and EAN-13 codes.
It is very important that the reseller is trustworthy, as the code along its path could lead to problems
Step 4. Once the dealer is located, you can purchase the barcode
It is usually received by e-mail with the relative images to be printed on the packaging of the articles to which it refers. Now you can use the code.
