What Do ASIN, UPC, EAN, ISBN, SKU and Other Barcodes Mean?
What Is a Barcode?
A barcode is an approach to presenting information about the product as an image or a set of characters. There are different types of barcodes, we’ll name the most popular ones:- 1-dimensional (1D)
- 2-dimensional (2D)
- Eliminate the chance of human errors.
- Allow to process information faster.
- Simplify tracking and inventory management.
- Cut costs on employee training.
- Help run business more effectively.
What Does UPC mean?
What is UPC in simple words? In a nutshell, a UPC barcode (Universal Product Code) is one of the most popular and versatile product identifiers that can be found on the package of almost every product in the USA and Canada. For retail in other countries consider EAN (more information in the next section). The UPC code consists of two parts:- a series of vertical black lines that is unique to every product and is read by barcode scanners.
- a unique 12-digit number below that can be run through a UPC lookup.
How do I get a UPC code?
If you need a UPC to label your products or you are planning to sell through large marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and others, you must work with GS1, the Global Standard Organization first. You need to apply to become a part of their system to get the Company Prefix number assigned to you by GS1. Then you can use a UPC generator to receive a unique product number and check digit for each product.What is EAN Number?
EAN barcode stands for the European Article Number. EAN number is a set of 13 numeric characters accompanied by an image-barcode. Just like UPC, it will be displayed on the packing of the item and could be read by a special device, computer, or you can enter the numbers manually if the barcode doesn’t get scanned. It looks similar to UPC but has some minor dissimilarities which we will cover later. What you should know now is that it is used for the European market to ensure faster product processing at checkout or more effective inventory management. It also helps customers find your items easier and faster, just using the code.How Do I Get EAN Numbers?
If you are looking for a barcode number, you can buy it from barcode sellers, like Barcodes.pro, or if you already have barcode numbers and want to generate barcode images, then you can use their free barcode generator tool.Is EAN and UPC the same?
In general, both EAN and UPC are meant to cover the same needs – to standardize the products you would like to trade, to sell your goods through marketplaces, and simplify some critical business processes. But they have some distinct dissimilarities.What Is a SKU?
What does SKU stand for? It’s a Stock Keeping Unit that is described as a unique alphanumeric code the item receives from the retailer to track their stock or sales, making a shopping experience smoother both for the sellers and customers. Unlike UPC and EAN, the SKU number is not universal, which means that every retailer will have its unique SKU system. SKU codes are generated to eliminate human inventory errors and to better differentiate between the items in the assortment. Every product feature like supplier, category, brand, model, size, color, and more gets a unique set of letters and numbers. You can even set a store or warehouse location if you have multiple premises. For example, you would like to sell a T-shirt in three colors (white, black, red) and three sizes (6, 10, 14). Each product parameter will get a unique code set by you.Some tips for creating an SKU system from SellerSkills:
- Eliminate the chance of human errors.
- Allow to process information faster.
- Simplify tracking and inventory management.
- Cut costs on employee training.
- Help run business more effectively.
Is SKU and barcode the same?
SKU is another type of barcode. Some barcodes are universal (like UPC, EAN, ISBN). In other words, they are used by all the sellers of the same product all over the world. They allow better product differentiation on a global scale. Others, like SKUs, are created within the company to ensure more effective stock control, simplify sales, and eliminate errors.What is ASIN?
Amazon ASIN number stands for Amazon Standard Identification Number that was created by the marketplace to manage its constantly growing market. Amazon defines them as unique blocks of 10 letters and numbers that are used to identify the product on their platform. It is unique for every item you are going to sell on Amazon. The ASINs are valid only within this sales channel and are not working for eBay, Walmart, or other marketplaces. This ASIN number is useful for both parties, the seller and Amazon itself. The merchant can easily track the inventory and index catalog pages for search, while the marketplace uses the ASIN code to reference the data when the users are looking for similar or the same products. NOTE! Use an Amazon ISBN rather than ASIN to identify books or other published materials.How do I find my Amazon ASIN?
You can find the ASIN number for every product in your Amazon Seller Central account. Or you can go to the product page on Amazon.com and find your product’s ASIN in the Product Information section along with other data.What is ISBN number?
Just like any product needs a UPC or EAN for its identification, text-based materials (books, magazines, ebooks, and other published stuff) can be marked with ISBN, an International Standard Book Number. The code carries information about the book registrant, title, edition, format, etc.Why Is ISBN Important?
Every book version and edition gets its unique ISBN. As books and other publishing materials are frequently published worldwide and in several editions, an ISBN is a great way for publishers to monitor the sales volumes of every book edition.What is ePID on eBay?
ePID is eBay’s answer to ASINs on Amazon. These are identifiers that are used to list products in their catalog. You can use it instead of UPC. The marketplace requires this identifier to list new items. You can also use it for the item search within the platform.What is a GTIN?
GTIN is a Global Trade Item Number that is given to a product for identification. The GTIN number could be applied globally and it contains from 8 to 14 digits depending on its form. There are several forms of GTIN depending on the type of the product and where it is sold:- Country index.
- Company prefix.
- Product reference.
- Check digit.