How to use product barcodes on retail products?

• Step 1: Prepare different product identification codes for different product items
• Step 2: Select the corresponding barcode symbol
• Step 3: Barcode symbol design
• Step 4: Printing of barcode symbols

Retail trade items are commonly known as retail commodities, which mainly refer to commodities that are scanned and settled through POS at retail terminals. The combination packaging of a can of beer, a bottle of shampoo and a bottle of conditioner can all be regarded as retail commodities.

Step 1: Prepare different product identification codes for different product items

Identification code structure of retail products

In my country, the identification codes of retail products mainly adopt the three data structures of GTIN, namely EAN/UCC-13, EAN/UCC-8 and UCC-12. Under normal circumstances, the 13-digit digital code structure is used to represent the EAN-13 bar code. Only when the product is exported to North America and specified by the customer, can the UCC-12 code (indicated by the UPC bar code) be applied. If Chinese manufacturers need to apply for UPC commodity barcodes, they must go through the unified processing of the China Article Numbering Center. The structures of EAN/UCC-13 and EAN/UCC-8 are shown in Figure 1, Figure 2, and Figure 3, respectively.

1) EAN/UCC-13 data structure

(1) When the prefix code is 690, 691, the code structure of EAN/UCC-13 is shown in Figure 1.

(2) When the prefix code is 692, 693, the code structure of EAN/UCC-13 is shown in Figure 2.

• A. Vendor identification code The vendor identification code is uniformly assigned to the applicant vendors by the China Article Numbering Center. The three digits from the left of the manufacturer’s identification code are the prefix codes assigned by the International Article Numbering Association to the China Article Numbering Center.
• B. Commodity item code The commodity item code is assigned by the manufacturer in accordance with relevant regulations.
• C. Check digit is used to verify the correctness of other codes. It has a fixed calculation method, see GB 12904 appendix.

2) The code structure of EAN/UCC-8 is shown in Figure 3.

• A. Commodity item identification code is the code assigned to manufacturer-specific commodity items by the EAN coding organization on the basis of the prefix code (X8X7X6) assigned by EAN. In order to ensure the uniqueness of the code, the commodity item identification code must be uniformly assigned by the China Article Numbering Center.
• B. Check digit is used to verify the correctness of other codes. It has a fixed calculation method, see GB 12904 appendix.

Coding principles of retail product identification codes

When compiling commodity identification codes for trade items, the following basic principles should be observed:

• (1) Uniqueness The principle of uniqueness is the basic principle of commodity coding. It means that the same commodity item should be assigned the same identification code, and different commodity items must be assigned different identification codes. Commodities with different commodity names, trademarks, types, specifications, quantities, and packaging types should be regarded as different commodity items, and different identification codes must be compiled to ensure the uniqueness of the codes.
• (2) Stability The principle of stability means that once the product identification code is assigned, as long as the basic characteristics of the product do not change, it should remain unchanged. For the same commodity item, whether it is a long-term continuous production or intermittent production, the same identification code must be used. Even if the production of the commodity item is stopped, its identification code should not be used on other commodity items for at least 4 years. In addition, even if the product is no longer in circulation in the supply chain, it is necessary to keep the historical record of his identification code in the database for a longer period of time. Therefore, this factor needs to be considered when reactivating the product identification code.
• (3) No meaning The meaningless principle means that each digit in the product identification code does not indicate any specific information related to the product. Meaningful coding usually results in a loss of coding capacity. When compiling commodity item codes, it is best for manufacturers to use meaningless serial numbers, that is, serial numbers. In this way, the coding capacity of the commodity item code can be utilized to the maximum.

Code example of retail product identification code

Assuming that the manufacturer identification code assigned to a certain company is 6901234, Table 1 shows the coding scheme of some of its product identification codes.

According to Table 1, we can see:

• (1) Different commodity item codes should be compiled for different commodity types. For example: Cooling oil and Fengyoujing are different commodity varieties, so their commodity item codes are different.
• (2) Even if the products of the same variety are produced by the same enterprise, if the trademarks are different, different product item codes should be compiled. For example, Tiantan brand Fengyoujing and Longhu brand Fengyoujing have different trademarks, so different product item codes should be compiled.
• (3) The trademark is the same, the product is the same, if the dosage form is different, the product item code should also be different. Such as: Tiantan brand refreshing oil, liniment and absorbent have different commodity item codes.
• (4) For products with the same variety, trademark, and dosage form, if the product specifications or packaging specifications are different, different product item codes should also be compiled. Such as: Tiantan brand cooling oil brown solid liniment, 3.5g/box and 19g/box, 3.5g/box and 3.5g/bag, the product code is different; ROYAL BALMTM cooling oil, 18.4g/bottle sporty brown The item codes of the power pack and the original white jointed pack are different.
• (5) For combined packaged products, such as Dragon Tiger brand family and friends combination, an independent product item code should also be assigned. If the Fengyoujing and Qingliangbishu products in the package are also sold separately, then the Fengyoujing, Qingliangbishu and the products after the combination of the two should be separately compiled with different commodity item codes.

Step 2: Select the corresponding barcode symbol

The EAN-13 barcode should be used as much as possible

In my country, EAN/UPC product barcodes are used to represent retail products. EAN/UPC product barcodes include EAN product barcodes (EAN-13 and EAN-8) and UPC product barcodes (UPC-A and UPC-E). EAN-13 and EAN-8 barcodes are shown in Figure 4. UPC commodity bar code is the bar code symbol representation of UCC-12 identification code, see GB 12904-2003 for details.

EAN-13 product barcode is also called standard product barcode, which means EAN/UCC-13 code. EAN-8 product barcode is also called shortened product barcode, which means EAN/UCC-8 code.

Under normal circumstances, users should try to use EAN commodity barcodes, especially EAN-13 barcodes. However, in the following situations, EAN-8 barcodes can be used.

• When the printing area of ​​EAN-13 commodity barcode exceeds one-fourth of the largest surface area of ​​the printed label or one-eighth of the total printable area;
• When the maximum surface area of ​​the printed label is less than 40cm2 or the total printable area is less than 80cm2;
• The product itself is a cylinder with a diameter of less than 3cm.

A complete EAN-13 product barcode is shown in Figure 5

Step 3: Barcode symbol design

Barcode size

The magnification factor of EAN/UPC barcode symbols is generally selected within the range of 0.80～2.00. The bar code symbol is enlarged or reduced with the change of the enlargement factor. See GB 12904-2003 for specific size requirements. When the magnification factor is 1.00, the main dimensions of EAN-13 and EAN-8 product barcodes are shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7.

Blank area on left and right side

The width of the blank area on the left and right sides of the barcode changes with the change of the magnification factor. When the magnification factor is 1.00, the minimum width of the left and right blank areas of the EAN-13 product barcode are 3.63mm and 2.31mm, respectively; the minimum width of the left and right blank areas of the EAN-8 product barcode are both 2.31mm; as shown in Figure 6, Shown in Figure 7. The width of the blank area on the left and right sides is of great significance to the successful reading of the barcode. Therefore, the width size requirement is one of the main parameters to measure the quality of the barcode symbol.

Strip color matching

Bar color matching refers to the combination of the bar color and the blank color in the barcode. Barcode is realized by using a special reading device to distinguish the border and width of the bar space. Therefore, it is required that the color contrast between the bar and the space is as large as possible. Generally speaking, white as the base and black as the strip is the most ideal color combination. The color combination scheme shown in Table 2 is for reference only for bar code symbol designers. The color matching of the strips should finally meet the relevant requirements of GB 12904-2003.

Selection of barcode location

The selection of the barcode position of retail products should be based on the relatively uniform symbol position, the symbol is not easily deformed, and it is easy to scan and read. Preferred barcode symbolThe number position should be in the lower right half area on the back of the product package.

For some unpackaged products, the barcode symbol of the product can be printed on the label. If the product has a flat surface and allows to stick sticker Label or sewn cloth label, barcode symbol can be printed on the label, see Figure 13.

Step 4: Printing of barcode symbols

Go to a printing company that has obtained the qualification to print barcodes to print barcodes

Qualified EAN/UPC barcode symbol quality is a prerequisite for POS stores to achieve accurate and fast scanning and settlement of goods. The quality of barcode symbology is directly related to the interests of manufacturers, sellers and printing companies. In order to ensure the printing quality of bar codes, the China Article Numbering Center and its branches have carried out bar code original film production services and the certification of the bar code printing qualifications for products of printing enterprises. The company can customize the original bar code film at the coding center or its branch according to its actual situation, and print the bar code at a printing company that has obtained the qualification to print commodity bar codes. China Article Numbering Center and its branches also provide bar code symbol quality inspection services for member companies. To avoid unnecessary economic losses for enterprises.