What’s in a Barcode? What Are The Different Types of Barcodes

Barcodes play an integral part in retail sales all over the world, but they offer tracking capabilities that go far beyond the supermarket checkout. Barcodes provide a versatile means to capture and share data electronically.

Each character in a barcode is expressed as a series of wide and narrow bars. Often barcodes have unique start and stop codes, so that the barcode scanner can determine if the barcode is being scanned forward or backward. The barcode scanner then sends a signal to the computer, which "decodes" the barcode information. A variety of barcodes exist for a broad spectrum of applications.

• Numeric-only Barcodes: This category includes the UPC’s commonly used on retail products in the United States and Canada. Numeric-only barcodes are generally used for retail applications, but are also used in blood banks and some older libraries. The Code 11 series was developed to track telecommunications equipment. Most numeric barcodes offer error correction and self-checking features.
• Alpha-numeric Barcodes: This all-purpose code is used worldwide. LOGMARS meets US Government specification for tracking and data collection in shipping. Alpha-numeric barcodes are widely used in the healthcare industry, because can include a large quantity of information and error reduction.
• Two-dimensional Barcodes: Used for material control and order confirmation, two-dimensional barcodes are ideal for encoding large amounts of information. The United Parcel Services uses a two-dimensional barcode, Maxicode, in its automated package sorting system.
• Industry-standard Barcodes: Different industries have come up with their own barcode systems, creating an industry-universal barcode system. For instance, the Bookland EAN encodes books’ ISBN information, for international book marking, while the ISSN/SISAC Barcode is used by the Optical Industry Association, for labeling retail optical products.

Ultimately, the time saved with barcode-based tracking systems allows employees to spend their time on other activities that generate income. It also means that businesses can cut down on staff for all these functions.

With all these options available, it can be difficult to decide which barcode is the best solution. Furthermore, barcode quality is extremely important. Certain common practices can guide barcode selection, especially if they are for external use.

• For retail products that will be sold domestically, it is necessary to get a manufacturer ID. This information goes into a standard UPC code.
• If a product will be sold internationally, it will need to be labeled with an EAN code, which is also a numeric-only barcode.
• Some products will require an industry-specific barcode, so some research will be necessary to determine whether such a barcode exists for a given product.
• If large amounts of data will be included in the barcode, a two-dimensional code would be the best choice.
• For internal tracking applications, such as equipment inventories, a numeric-only barcode is usually sufficient.

In addition to the time saved on internal and external tracking, barcodes provide a valuable opportunity to improve operations in ways that translate into significant savings and increased income over time.

The functionality of barcodes makes them a versatile solution to data and information tracking. With multiple formats for a variety of applications, barcodes can be optimized for internal and external use in any industry.