A barcode is a machine-readable snippet of data that consists of parallel lines of varying widths and spacings. For ecommerce, barcodes identify and track products, making inventory management and ecommerce accounting more efficient. Once you scan a product’s barcode, you can access its price, description, stock levels, and more.
What are common types of barcodes
There are several types of barcodes commonly used in retail and ecommerce. Each has specific purposes and features. Some of the most common barcode types include:
UPC (Universal Product Code): Widely used in the US and Canada for retail products, UPC barcodes consist of 12 numeric digits.
EAN (European Article Number): Similar to UPC, EAN barcodes are used globally for retail products and consist of 13 numeric digits.
Code 39: Used mainly in warehousing, code 39 can encode letters and numbers.
Code 128: Used in shipping and packaging, it can encode all 128 ASCII characters, making code 128 versatile.
QR Code: Commonly used in marketing, a QR code is a two-dimensional barcode that can store more information than traditional barcodes and can be scanned using smartphones.
Why use Shopify’s free barcode generator
There are advantages to using our barcode generator, you can:
Generate individual barcodes: Get the unique barcode you need to save time during checkout, ensuring a smooth experience for your customers and your employees.
Cost-effective: Save money by generating barcodes for free instead of purchasing expensive barcode software or hardware.
Reduce errors/Increase efficiency: Decreasing the need for manual activities will reduce the amount of errors made during a transaction.
Increase customer satisfaction: Having up-to-date information about purchases means that dealing with returns can be a seamless process.
Integrate with your POS: When you use Shopify as your point of sale (POS) and inventory management systems you can easily integrate your barcode into it.
2. Enter the data you want to encode in the barcode
3. Enter your email address
4. Download the custom barcode as a PNG
5. Print the barcode on a label or directly on the product
What are some tips for using a barcode generator
1. Ensure accuracy: Double-check the information you enter into the barcode generator to avoid errors that could lead to scanning issues or incorrect product information.
2. Test your barcode: Before printing and applying custom barcodes to your products, test them using a barcode scanner app to ensure they work as expected.
3. Consider barcode size: Make sure your barcode is large enough to scan easily, and placed in a location on your product packaging that is highly visible.