As you pull up to the self-checkout line and scan your item, you’re interacting with the product’s UPC Code—an instantly recognizable barcode that enables products to be tracked through global supply chains.
When crafting a beverage, whether it’s a sports drink or a canned cocktail, it’s required that you print a UPC code on each of your products before they’re packaged, shipped, and sold. The process to obtain a UPC barcode can be perplexing—that’s why the experts at Wildpack Beverage are here to help.
This guide will explore how to get a UPC code, and how they differ from QR codes and barcodes. Let’s crack open a cold one and dive in.
What is a UPC Code?
Wondering whats a UPC Code? The Universal Product Code (UPC) is a twelve-digit code that is found on every product sold worldwide. The UPC acts as an identifier and is a way to catalog a product that is being sold in any sort of store or online platform.
Essentially, it makes it easy to identify a product’s name, item, type, size, and color when scanned at checkout. They were initially invented to make grocery checkouts more efficient. However, today they can also be used to track sales and product performance.
When you pick up a product, a UPC Code can easily be found printed on one side of the item—you’ll recognize it as a white rectangle overlaid with black bars of varying thickness. Underneath the bars, you’ll find a twelve-digit code called a GTIN-12, which identifies the product as well as the vendor that sells the product—you.
Why Do I Need A UPC Code?
A UPC code serves as a tracker for both the manufacturer and retailer. Because it is a unique number that is different from every other product, the UPC helps to keep inventory organized, helping companies operate smoothly and avoid any glitches.
On a macro scale, a UPC code is helpful when identifying where a company’s product falls in the hierarchy of the global supply chain. Companies also utilize the tracking data to evaluate a product’s performance. Technically, the UPC allows every product sold to be tracked. That’s how companies are able to see where their best client bases are and what sort of stores they do well in.
Understanding the Numbers
A UPC bar code is made up of twelve digits with three sets of numbers. Each part of the code serves a unique purpose and is an essential piece of the UPC puzzle:
- Company prefix – This is the unique identifier for your company that states you are the manufacturer of the product
- IRN – This is your item reference number and is calculated based on the number of products you’re selling
- Check digit – This is the last digit of your UPC and ensures that the barcode is legitimate and accurate
How To Get Your UPC Code
The process of getting your UPC code is as easy as popping a cap off of a beer bottle. While there are several steps to follow, all product manufacturers must adhere to these steps, and it’s relatively accessible.
Step #1: Calculate Your IRNs
The first thing you’ll need to calculate is your IRN, which stands for “Item Reference Number.” To do this, count how many products you have in stock to estimate how many IRNs you’ll need. This is essential because each of your products will have its own special UPC code, and that UPC code will contain one of the digits of your highest IRN. Confused yet? Stick with us.
The first set of numbers of your GTIN-12 is your company prefix, which will stay the same across each of your products. The next numbers will be the IRN, which is unique to each product. The final number will be the check digit, which is mathematically calculated based on the numbers that precede it.
For example, if you have 1,525 cans of wine spritzer total, your IRN will be 1525. You’ll then need to subtract the number of digits in your IRN from 11 to identify how many digits should comprise your company prefix. In this case, you’ll have a company prefix that’s 7 digits long (11-4).
The numbers of the barcode should then look something like this:
0 28005 31525 4
Step #2: Join GS1 US
GS1 is the sole legitimate producer of UPC codes for American businesses. There are other less legitimate sites, but we recommend sticking to the official distributor to preserve your product’s integrity and minimize issues moving forward.
To obtain your code, sign up for GS1 through its website and apply for a membership to obtain a company prefix. The company prefix is the number will differentiate your company from the rest. In other words, it identifies your company as the manufacturer of your products.
When it comes to costs, you will be required to pay a membership fee and a fee that’s based upon the number of UPC Codes you’ll need. For example, if you have 11 to 100 products, you’ll pay an initial fee of $750. If you have 1,001 to 10,000 products in need of UPC Codes, you can expect to pay $6,500. Each year, you’ll also be expected to pay an annual renewal fee, which is also based on the number of products you have.
Step #3: Choose A Product Number
Each of your products will need to have its own product number. This number is based on the number of digits in your IRN and makes up the eleventh digit on your UPC code.
For example, if you have 1,525 products, your product numbers will range from 0001 to 1525.
The product number will be added as a part of your company prefix, which will comprise 11 of the 12 digits in the code. Luckily, GS1 offers a Check Digit Calculator to provide support during the barcode creation and identification process.
Step #4: Get Your Barcode
Choosing your barcode design is one of the last things to check off the list. Your choice of barcode is entirely up to you and is based on your personal preference—you can opt for the standard black and white, or get creative with blue stripes and a red background to match your product label or brand identity.
However, be aware that there are sizing requirements for each barcode—the standardized size is 1.469 inches wide by 1.02 inches tall. However, it can range in sizes. Just ensure that the barcode is readable. To that end, before printing your UPC barcode, figure out where the product label will be placed and the dimensions you’ll require.
Once your purchase your barcode, you’ll be able to work out the rest of the design details in your label printing and design processes (this is the fun part).
Advantages of UPC Codes
Although not the most glamorous part of your product’s labeling, UPC codes are essential. They make life a lot easier for everyone, from your production and sales teams to the cashier who’s scanning your product at the register.
But why exactly are UPC Codes required? Well, they provide quite a few benefits:
- Improves speed and efficiency by enabling the barcode scanner to easily identify the product.
- Boosts productivity by eliminating the need to manually enter information.
- Tracks sales and production activity by making it easy for you and your distributors to see how a product is performing.
- Comes to the rescue in a crisis by keeping track of where your products are in the case of a recall or another unexpected issue.
The Difference between UPCs, Barcodes, and QR Codes
By this point, you’re probably wondering how UPCs, barcodes, and QR codes differ. Although they function similarly, each serves a different yet equally important purpose.
Let us break it down for you.
Barcodes
Most people believe that a UPC and a barcode are the same thing, but that isn’t correct. Printed
barcodes and UPCs actually work hand in hand.
In other words, a barcode holds the same product identifying information as a UPC, but it’s machine-readable.
More specifically, the UPC Code is the numbered digits and the barcode is the straight black lines atop the white background. It’s insignificant to the human eye, but to a scanner or computer, it tells your product’s whole story.
Next time you’re at the store, pick up a carton of milk and look at the barcode that the cashier scans. The UPC is the little number set right under that. Cool, right?
QR Codes
With the rise of contactless payments, QR codes have emerged as the service industry’s go-to technological companion.
Made to be scanned by a smartphone or QR code reader, these two-dimensional codes do not identify a product. Instead, they use something known as a “matrix barcode.”
QR codes can be utilized for a variety of purposes, whether a company is promoting its new website or a restaurant is looking to create a safe environment for its customers and employees.
Think of the last time you went out to eat. Remember that little square sticker code on the table telling you to “click to see menu”? That’s a QR code. In restaurants, owners utilize these codes to enable people to order online or browse through the menu through their smartphone.
WildPack Beverage: We’re Here To Help
Generating your UPC Code is the first step toward selling your beverages far and wide. If you want help with the rest of it, partner with us here at Wildpack Beverage.
We’re experts in beverage sleeving, labeling, co-packing, and packaging. Our top-of-the-line cannery equipment ensures your products are top-quality and our end-to-end capabilities check all the boxes before your products are shipped out for consumption.
Do canning better with Wildpack.
Sources:
The SMB Guide. How To Geet UPC Codes (A Step-by-Step Guide). https://www.thesmbguide.com/how-to-get-upc-codes
Shopify. Universal Product Code (UPC). https://www.shopify.com/encyclopedia/universal-product-code-upc
GS1. Get Your U.P.C. Barcodes from GS1 US. https://www.gs1us.org/upcs-barcodes-prefixes/get-a-barcode
