What is Barcode Registration ?
A barcode is “A machine-readable code in the form of numbers and a pattern of parallel lines of varying widths, printed on and identifying a product.”
The lines and patterns on a barcode are actually representations of numbers and data and their development allowed basic information about a product to be easily read by an optical scanning device (a barcode scanner) and automatically entered into a computer system. This massively reduces the time to record products information and eliminates human data entry error.
Barcode systems help businesses and organizations track products, prices, and stock levels for centralized management in a computer software system allowing for incredible increases in productivity and efficiency.
Barcodes started out with simple 1-dimensional designs, consisting of basic black lines that could only be read by specially designed barcode scanners. However, today barcodes come in many shapes and sizes and a wide range of designs and many can even be read by mobile phones and other devices.
Why is Barcode required?
Provides unambiguous & universal identification of products so no two products in the world would have the same GS1 barcode number.Helps with faster listing of products on e-commerce platforms. Meets pre-requisite to doing business with modern trade retailers. Gives an international look and feel to products.
Facilitates accurate and faster billing at retail billing counters.Since the barcode is a unique key to identify a product (via GTIN), it can be used to identify products without any ambiguity and place accurate orders for them.
With Product Barcodes, company can use the technology to maintain accurate control over inventory. For example, warehouses and retailers can scan barcodes when products arrive and leave, to take a record of inventory. Some companies link their inventory control to online portals so that they can instantly update package status.Enables automated data capture with 100% information accuracy. This helps eliminate human errors, offering a reliable way to read encoded information. he movement of the products becomes smooth due to all information of the products being captured in the barcode and makes the movement through the supply chain hassle-free. Barcodes have the information related to the product like product numbers, serial numbers, batch numbers, and hence ensures the genuineness of the products.
How Do Businesses Use Barcodes?
Barcodes are used to provide a unique symbol, often parallel lines and a number, that can be read by the scanner to populate all the information of the product from the database. Business houses use the barcodes for the following:
- Inventory database – Large departmental stores with thousands of products manage their inventory through the barcode system. All the phases of the product cycle from manufacture to sale are tracked through the code.
- Asset tracking – All businesses today hold a large chunk of IT assets, and hence the barcode system is used for tagging and tracking the assets in the asset software.
- Tracking returns – The barcode system can be used for tracking returns, especially so in the online shopping world. Barcodes can also be attached to invoices so as to ease the tracking of payments from customers.
Types of Barcode
- EAN -13 – International Article Number which is now called the European Article Number is a 13-digit number used for barcodes in Europe, India, and other nations.
- UPC- A – Universal Product Code or UPC – A is a 12 – digit barcode generally used in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
- Databar barcodes – These barcodes are generally used for fresh food products and contain additional information like a batch number or expiry date and weight of the product.
- 1D barcodes – The GS1 128 and ITF – 14 are highly versatile 1D barcodes through which items of the global supply chains can be tracked. The GS1 128 barcodes can carry any of the ID keys and additional information like serial number, expiration dates, etc. The ITF-14 holds the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) and is ideal for being applied to corrugated materials.
- 2D barcodes – These barcodes have gained popularity with online payment wallets coming into the picture. These can hold a lot of information and are widely used by businesses to even share websites and videos. It can hold around 7000 digits or 4000 characters. It can also be used to integrate data with programs like MS Office, MS SQL, Servers, and other database files.
Process For Obtaining Barcode Registration
The process for Barcode Registration is completely online. In India, the authority for registering Barcodes is GS1 India. The registration application can be made online on their website – https://www.gs1india.org .
The steps involved are: Step 1 – Fill the application Step 2 – Upload all the relevant documents Step 3 – Choose the type and number of barcodes required Step 4 – Confirm all the details Step 5- Pay the applicable fees Step 6- Track the status
Documents For Barcode Registration
- Letter requesting allotment of barcode
- PAN card of the entity
- Copy of audited balance sheet
- GST/VAT registration certificate
- Certificate of incorporation/partnership deed
- Memorandum of Association/Articles of Association
- Copy of cancelled cheque
Fees For Barcode Registration
The fees for barcode registration is dependent on the following:
- Turnover of the company
- Number of barcodes required
- Subscription period
Depending on all these factors, the fees vary from around Rs. 44,000 to Rs. 2,20,000.
Advantages of Barcode
- Reduces error – Since the information on the barcode is all automated, the chances of errors are reduced since there is no manual intervention in the form of data entry.
- Cost-effective and convenient – Barcodes are easy to obtain, cost-effective, and convenient to print, and it can also be customised.
- Detailed information – Barcodes have the information related to the product like product numbers, serial numbers, batch numbers, and hence ensures the genuineness of the products.
- Optimised inventory – The movement of the products becomes smooth due to all information of the products being captured in the barcode and makes the movement through the supply chain hassle-free.
- Time saving – Registering a barcode saves a lot of time. Using a barcode reader, the code can be scanned, and the details can be obtained.
- Accurate and faster billing – The information linked to the barcode is all automated and accurate and helps in good and efficient decision making.
- Unique and global identification – The barcoding system facilitates unique identification that is globally recognised, and hence there will be no two products that will have the same code.
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