To learn something effectively you need to know the basics. The GS1 Handbook – How To Barcode Your Product tells you all about what barcodes do, what the GS1 does and how you can create, print and verify your barcodes. But before going on, let’s talk about basics. This post will analyze the structure of the UPC barcode, because understanding …
Which industries use GS1 barcodes?
The invention of barcodes and implementation of the GS1 standards lead many industries to undergo a positive transformation. Reduced costs, increased efficiency and improved inventory management are just a few of the perks. Although barcodes are available in many industries: retail, healthcare, transport and logistics, and healthcare are the main four. Let’s take a look at how the supply chains …
Barcodes for food traceability
The first ever commercial barcode was used on a Wrigley’s Chewing Gum pack in 1974 and since then, barcodes have played an important role in the food industry. The Universal Product Code (UPC) is a critical factor in determining the traceability of any product. In the food industry, traceability of a food item is taken very seriously as it can …
Fun facts about barcodes
They don’t get much attention, but barcodes are one of the most important inventions ever. They have an incredibly important role in improving the way businesses capture and share information, as well as optimizing the movement of items along the supply chain. The story of barcodes begins with Joseph Norman Woodland who, inspired by Morse code, drew the first ever …
Glossary of useful GS1 terms
The GS1 system has a language of its own, and it’s handy to have a glossary to refer to when getting started. You’ll hear some terms and acronyms quite often, including barcode types and language (symbology). It can be confusing at first, but will become easier as you go on. Understanding these terms is essential to implementing barcodes with your …
Why do you need barcodes for your food business?
The everyday “beep” of the barcode reader at the checkout is something we are all familiar with. But many small to medium sized food producers often think of barcoding products as an expensive burden. However it’s also the best way of growing a business through access to major retailers, while establishing a better known brand. The food and beverage industry …
Seven reasons why your barcodes might be failing
There are many reasons as to why barcodes fail, but they can usually be grouped into two categories: poor printing and poor data quality. Failures due to poor printing are easier to detect because they will be visible to the eye, but data errors are more difficult to spot. You may need to go through all of the barcode quality …