All sellers use barcodes as product identifiers when selling their products. But due to various types of barcodes, even sellers are sometimes unclear about the differences or purposes of each barcode type.
This article teaches about barcodes, barcodes on Amazon, differences, purposes, and requirements.
What are barcodes?
The most accessible definition is that barcodes are images that use lines of different thicknesses to present product information. Invented by Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver and patented in the US in 1951, this barcode was circular and had no commercial use. After more than 20 years, The Uniform Grocery Product Code Council chose George Lauren’s vertical barcode design, and the first scanning of barcodes had happened on Wrigley’s chewing gum in 1974.
Today, we can see barcodes and barcode scanners almost everywhere, the use of barcodes has become global, and their use is widespread in many contexts. We will be focusing on Amazon barcodes in this article and how these barcodes are helpful to both Amazon and sellers.
What are Amazon barcodes, and why do sellers need them?
Any seller or anyone who wants to use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) knows that each item sent to Amazon fulfillment centers requires a barcode. Amazon uses barcodes to track and identify the inventory in the fulfillment process. Barcodes accepted by Amazon include three main groups:
- Manufacturer barcodes (UPC, ISBN, EAN, and JAN)
- Amazon barcodes (FNSKU)
- Transparency authenticity code (for brand owners only, sometimes required to prevent counterfeit)
Manufacturer barcodes
Manufacturer barcodes are the barcodes that consist of the machine-readable barcode with the code itself included. These codes must apply to all products shipped to Amazon. But let’s explain shortly what each of these types means. Any manufacturer barcode is a part of the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) family.
The Universal Product Code (UPC) is the 12-digit number assigned for each product, but the term is commonly used to describe a barcode type used to identify each product.
An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is calculated using a specific mathematical formula and used by publishers purchasing them from the International ISBN Agency. An ISBN identifies each separate edition and variation of a publication.
EAN stands for European Article Number, introduced by the predecessor institution of today’s GS1 to provide all European products with individual article numbers. In 2009 the EAN was replaced by the 13-digit Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)
JAN (Japanese Article Numbering) is just another name for the EAN-13 barcode, used mainly in Japan.
Amazon Barcodes
In cases when products are not eligible for virtual tracking with the manufacturer’s barcode, sellers are required to use Amazon barcodes, commonly known as FNSKU (Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit). FNSKU is used only on Amazon and by FBA sellers. Like manufacturer barcodes, each product on Amazon will have its own assigned FNSKU. FNSKUs are required for some categories of products as restricted products, dangerous goods, products with an expiration date, media products, and products for children and infants. Also, FNSKU is required for used products.
Transparency authenticity codes
According to Amazon, transparency codes are item-level authentication stickers that help protect brand owners and customers from counterfeiting. These codes have the Transparency “T” logo and must not cover or be covered by any other label.
Label requirements
As stated on Amazon Seller Help Page, printed labels must include:
- Sufficient white space around the Amazon barcode and related text: (0.25 inches on the sides and 0.125 inches on the top and bottom)
- ASIN or FNSKU, product name, and item condition
Labels must also:
- Cover all other visible barcodes, except serial number or transparency authenticity codes.
- Be placed on the outside of any prep materials.
- Not be placed on a curve or corner of the package.
- Allow 0.25 inches between the edge of the label and the edge of the packaging.
- Each item in the case pack must have Amazon barcode without other barcodes.
- Be printed in black ink on white, non-reflective labels with removable adhesive.
- Dimensions must be between 1 x 2 inches and 2 x 3 inches.
What are the differences between manufacturer and Amazon barcodes?
The main difference is that sellers can use manufacturer barcodes outside of Amazon, and FNSKUs are being used only on Amazon.
Manufacturer barcodes identify only the product, which sometimes could cause a problem if anyone decides to sell some copy of the product as your product. Amazon doesn’t have a problem using any barcodes but if you have resellers on Amazon, using manufacturer barcodes leads to commingled inventory. Commingled inventory means that Amazon can put your inventory together with the inventory of other sellers, and Amazon will fulfill the orders with inventory that is closest to the customer. It is essential to consider all these facts when deciding what barcode to use.
On the other side, FNSKU doesn’t identify only the product but also identifies the seller. It is an advantage because you can’t have commingled inventory in this way, and your inventory fulfills all your orders.
How to track inventory with barcodes
Barcodes are very useful for inventory tracking. With barcodes, sellers and manufacturers can track stock and control the inventory. It would be best if you had inventory management software, a barcode scanner, and a computer. The scanner will read the data and send it to the computer, and the software will decode it to a human-understandable format. The entire process is not rocket science, and it is effortless to implement. In the end, for a basic system, you will need to spend less than $1000.
Inventory tracking with barcodes is helpful for sellers and Amazon as well. Amazon tracks inventory levels and generates various reports or alerts according to the data received by using the same process.
Key Takeaways
- Barcodes are used globally and widely for many purposes.
- Each product sent to Amazon FCs must have either manufacturer or Amazon Barcode.
- Make sure to check all label printing requirements.
- You can use manufacturer barcodes outside of Amazon, FNSKUs only on Amazon.
- The manufacturer barcode identifies only the product, and FNSKU identifies the seller.
- Barcodes are very useful for inventory tracking.
- Using resold barcodes is not recommended, purchasing a license from GS1 is a recommendation.
If you have additional questions or want us to help you on your Amazon journey, don’t hesitate to contact the BellaVix Team.
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