Barcoding your products does not have to be a long or complicated process. There are a lot of challenges facing new business owners in South Africa today. Buying codes for your products shouldn’t be one of them. The world of barcodes can be daunting to new business owners, but it doesn’t have to be.
Barcoding your products is one of the most important decisions you can make to boost your business. Barcodes will give you the tools you need to promote your business and ensure that it thrives in the competitive world of today.
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Here is how to barcode your products in five easy steps
Step 1: Decide on what type of barcodes you need
Before you purchase barcodes for your business, there are a few decisions that you need to make. Firstly, you need to decide what kind of codes you need for your specific business needs. There are many different types of codes available to you. The most popular codes for retail purposes are the American UPC and EAN codes. These are retail codes that are twelve and thirteen digits long respectively. They are basically the same code. The only difference is that the EAN code has an extra 0 in front of it.
They are both one dimensional codes that are used in retailers to streamline the sales process. If you are selling products that are very small, it may be necessary to buy the smaller EAN-8 code. This code is simply a shorter and smaller version of the more common EAN-13 code. Most retailers will only accept your products if they are barcoded. Therefore, by barcoding your products, they will be able to be sold in a wider variety of retailers and will get all the exposure they need.
Another type of retail code that you could choose to purchase is the specifically South African barcode that always begins with 600. These barcodes are fully registered within the South African Barcode Database.
Other possible codes to consider are the ITF-14 codes. These box or case codes are used when you need to supply your products in bulk to retailers. For example, if you are supplying beer in a pack of 6. Each box code is linked to the product’s unique EAN code. Some retailers require these codes in addition to the normal retail codes.
Two dimensional codes are becoming ever more popular in the modern world we live in. The most common of these codes is the QR code. This code is linked to a website address. All a client has to do in order to access this website is to scan the code with their Smartphone. This square barcode is used in several payment applications such as Zapper and Snapscan. These applications are revolutionising the way we do business today. Clients are now able to pay for their purchases by simply scanning a QR code and following the directions. Using QR codes in this way is making the sales process even more convenient for clients.
You can also use QR codes in order to promote your products and your business as a whole. By scanning this code, clients will be connected to all the information that they need in order to buy your products and become loyal clients. You can advertise any specials or promotions that you are running and in this way, you can encourage more people to frequent your store and increase your publicity.
Step 2: Decide on how many barcodes you will need
The amount of codes you buy will depend on your specific business needs. You will need a separate, unique code for every size and variation of your product. For example, if you sell peanut butter in two different sizes and two different variations, you will need to purchase four codes. If you are planning on selling these bottles of peanut butter in bulk, you may require an additional box barcode. In addition, if you are planning to initiate Snapscan in your business or if you would like to use a QR code to promote your business, you will need to invest in this code. If you add extra product lines at a later stage, you can always purchase additional codes for them.
Step 3: Choose where to buy your barcodes
Once you have made these decisions, you are ready for the next step. There are two routes you can take in order to buy your barcodes. Firstly, you can approach the GS1 South Africa and purchase their “600” barcode that originates from the South African Barcode Database. This is a fairly long and costly process.
The second route you can take is to go through a Barcode Reseller, such as the very popular Barcode Solutions. We have bought GS1 registered barcodes in bulk and are reselling them within South Africa. We supply top quality, affordable EAN and UPC codes that are legal throughout the world. This process is quick and simple. You will have your barcode package before you know it.
Whichever route you take, it is important to make sure that the codes are registered within the South African Barcode Database.
Step 4: Buy Barcodes
The process of buying barcodes through Barcode Solutions starts with simply contacting us for a quote. We sell barcodes in specific size packages or you can request an individualised quote. Once you have made payment, we need to know what name (either business or personal) that you would like us to register the codes under.
After this, we will send you the barcode package via email. It comes with a certificate of authentication that assures you and your retailers that these codes are fully legal within the South African Barcode Database.
Step 5: Attach the barcodes to your products
There are two ways to do this. Firstly, it is possible to include the code into the packaging of your product. This will make certain that the code is on every product. Secondly, you can print barcode labels or stickers which you can then attach to each product. After this, you will be ready to approach your list of retailers to determine which of them would be happy to stock your products.
Barcoding your products is the first step toward financial success for your business. Small business owners need all the help that they can get in order to ensure that the businesses become a thriving concern. Barcodes will enhance your reputation and will raise your business to the next level. Both your clients and your competitors will take you seriously.
Barcoding your products will save you both time and money which you can then invest in other important aspects of running a business in South Africa. Barcoding your products is the best strategic decision you can make to promote your business in the modern world of today.
