Barcodes – backbone of the retail industry

Barcodes make the world go round

Barcodes truly are the backbone of the retail industry. They are used in almost every sector of life as we know it and form the foundation of the retail world, yet we barely notice them in our daily lives. Since the invention of barcodes, they have changed the retail world for the better in so many different ways. They are used at every step of the retail process to ensure your business makes a profit efficiently and effectively, and that no money is lost through avoidable mistakes.

Some think that money or love makes the world go around. Perhaps that is true, but it is without a doubt that without barcodes, the world would grind to a screeching halt. They have become the bedrock on which our purchasing needs are met all throughout the world. Bar code systems are used to control the retail process from the start, when retailers receive goods from various suppliers, to the end, when they sell the goods to the general public. There are so many different formats and standards within the retail industry alone, each with its own unique purpose. Retail barcodes have made the whole process of buying and selling goods smooth, efficient and effectively error-free.

Single product barcodes

The sales process starts with the most popular retail barcodes such as the EAN and UPC barcodes. These are 13 digits long and 12 digits long respectively. If you go into any supermarket or retail store, you will find these codes on the products. The EAN codes are more popular with retailers than their UPC counterparts since UPC codes are mostly used in the USA (where it was invented). Retail barcodes are one-dimensional and, as such, they are not able to store any information besides the digits (or characters, such as for some high-density barcodes). When they are scanned, the digits are read into the computer. As retail assistants sell items, they scan the code which instantly brings up the product in their sales system. In this way, the sales process is made simple, easy and efficient. It is very easy for retail assistants to make mistakes, which this avoids – we are all only human. Initiating a bar code system within your business limits these mistakes, thus saving you both time and money and putting your business on a path to financial success.

Retail barcodes are also used to control inventory. In the past, it was necessary to close business in order to do stock checks by all but manually counting each item. However, with the use of barcodes, this inefficiency is no longer necessary. It is now possible to do stock checks simply by scanning each stock item into the inventory system. This means that businesses can still operate and sell their produce while doing these regular stock checks and keeping their inventory up to date and accurate. This also helps with ordering as having an up-to-date inventory means the owner knows exactly when each stock item is running low so he can re-order and make sure his store is stocked well in order to cater to ever-changing demand. Clients will return to stores that always have stock of the items they want and need.

Multi-product barcodes

Another format or standard that is often used in the retail industry is the case or box code. These are officially known as ITF-14 barcodes and are used when retailers receive bulk stock into their inventory. They are linked to the EAN or UPC barcodes for the individual products within the bulk goods. For example, when a retailer wants to receive a box of 12 bottles of juice, they can simply scan one code that will indicate that there are 12 bottles of juice coming into the store. This makes it a lot easier for them to receive inventory quickly and efficiently. Many retailers will require you to have both UPC/EAN and ITF-14 codes for your products. 

Informational barcodes

Quick response (QR) codes are a very popular format in these modern days. They are two-dimensional barcodes and, as such, they are able to store much more information besides a couple of digits. They are normally used to store a URL. QR codes are square barcodes with a black design pattern set against a white background. What makes this code special is that they are able to be scanned and read by a smartphone. There are several ways that they are used in the retail industry. The first use is as a payment portal, such as via Snapscan or other payment applications on our smartphones. The customer simply scans the QR code and then follows the prompts that will lead them through the process of payment. Payment apps provide a convenient way for your customers to pay, since everyone carries a smartphone around these days.

Another use for QR codes is marketing. It is often used in the retail industry to inform possible clients as well as the general public of all that the specific store has to offer. The QR code can be put onto billboards or websites or even situated around your store. Clients can scan this code to find out more about your store, such as what products you stock, the prices as well as your contact details, etc. In this way, clients are able to make informed decisions and more and more of the general public become aware of your business.

Life without barcodes

Without barcodes, the retail industry would be completely different. Sales assistants and owners of the stores themselves would have to work extra hard to ensure the stores are run as efficiently as possible and to avoid making human mistakes. The queues in retail stores would be long and clients would run out of patience. Life would be a lot more difficult and time-consuming for everyone. Businesses would lose both time and money in needless mistakes and inefficiencies. This can all be avoided with the initiation of a globally recognised bar code system within your small or large business.

Barcodes have changed the world for the better and form the backbone of our modern retail industry. They can make or break your businesses. They can limit you if you do not have them. And they can set your business up to grow beyond your wildest imagination. Buy Barcodes would love to walk this journey with you. We supply a wide range of barcodes and can assist you with any query you may have. Our barcodes come with an authentication certificate that guarantees that they are genuine and that they have not been used before (and never will be used by anyone other than you). We are always keen to hear from you to chat about your bar code needs for your business.