European Article Numbering Code (EAN) is a series of numbers in a structured order that helps businesses identify products uniquely and list them on multiple offline/online marketplaces. With EAN/GTIN, businesses can sell products easily on marketplaces like Blinkit, Amazon, Flipkart, and more. An EAN-13 barcode (European Article Number), commonly known as GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), consists of 13 digits. It is used worldwide to trade goods in a standardised and efficient manner. EAN/GTIN are both used synonymously with each other and serve the same purpose. EAN/GTIN follows GS1 standards, which makes them interoperable. In this blog, we will cover what makes EAN/GTIN barcodes so crucial for businesses and why they should only choose GS1 barcodes. An EAN-13 barcode (originally European Article Number), but now renamed GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) even though the abbreviation EAN has been still used by retailers) is a 13-digit (12 data and 1 check) barcoding standard. The EAN-13 barcode is used worldwide for marking products often sold at retail points of sale. The numbers encoded in EAN-13 barcodes are product identification numbers.
GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) is an identification standard developed by GS1, the global organisation responsible for supply chain standards’ creation and management. GTIN is a blanket term to describe various GS1 numbering codes – UPC and EAN. It is, hence, safe to term an EAN-13 code as a GTIN-13. GTIN provides a global unique identification to any item that is traded (priced, ordered, and invoiced).
Types of GTIN
- UPC-12 - The twelve-digit code that is used in North America
- EAN-8 - The eight-digit code used on smaller retail trade items
- EAN-13 - The thirteen-digit code for all countries other than North America
- GTIN-14 - The fourteen-digit number used on general distribution trade items, not intended to be sold at the point-of-sale.
To create a GTIN, a company needs to have a GS1 company prefix. The assigned company prefix forms the base for the creation of all GS1 identifiers like GLN, GTIN, and SSCC numbers.
The EAN-13 barcode has three main components: the GCP (Global Company Prefix), the product code, and the check digit.
Barcodes are widely used across industries, and their popularity is evident from their use in simplifying and streamlining supply chain operations globally. Some benefits of having EAN barcodes are mentioned below –
Faster Checkout – Barcodes enable quick scanning at POS (Point-of-sale) systems, reducing checkout time and enhancing customer experience.
Accurate Data Entry – Manual data entry is prone to errors. Barcodes minimise these errors by enabling precise and consistent data capture.
Improved Inventory Management – Barcodes help track stock levels, making it easier to manage inventory, avoid stock-outs, and reduce overstocking.
Enhanced Traceability – Barcodes make it easier to trace a product through the supply chain, improving transparency and accountability, crucial for recalls or quality control.
Compliance with Regulations – GS1 barcodes meet compliance with global regulatory and trade requirements, promoting interoperability and cross-border sales. Domestically, these include those of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, DGFT, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, FSSAI, Delhi Excise, and more.
Faster Product Listing – GS1 barcodes on your products enable you to list your products faster with leading retailers and online shopping portals. GS1 barcode numbers, when used on a product webpage, show a 40% improvement in search results.
Companies can easily get registered for GS1 barcodes by following the step-by-step approach below –
Step 1: Visit the ‘Register for Barcodes’ page on our website.
Step 2: Click on the ‘Register Now’ button and fill out the complete registration form.
Step 3: Provide documents as mentioned in the form
Step 4: Pay the one-time registration fees through your preferred payment channel.
Step 5: After a few working days, you will receive your barcode allotment letter along with your Global Company Prefix (GCP). Use this GCP to log into DataKart and start your product-selling journey.
If you have any queries or concerns regarding our barcode registration service, please feel free to reach out to us at info@gs1india.org or registration@gs1india.org
GS1 India is the only organisation in India authorised to issue barcodes beginning with ‘890’ in India. Here are some more reasons why any company must obtain barcodes from GS1 India -
For the last 20 years, barcode technology has been critical for businesses to massively reduce human errors and increase efficiency in business operations.
Today, barcodes are completely integrated into mainstream life—nearly every product in a grocery department or mass merchandise store bears a barcode. While the industry is shifting to the adoption of 2D barcodes, EAN or 1D barcodes will still exist, continuing to serve as a reliable tool for unique product identification and efficient retail processes.
If you already understand the needs of your partners and customers, choosing how to serve those needs most efficiently is where we can help. All you need to do is connect with us to learn more about how GS1 standards can support your needs.
An EAN-13 barcode is used to uniquely identify products sold in the retail landscape. Some products that carry EAN-13 barcode include cosmetics, FMCG products, stationery, clothing, electronics, and more.
Yes, barcode subscription needs to be timely renewed to continue using barcodes on your products and ensure your access to DataKart and the ClickIt application.
EAN barcodes are accepted globally; however, UPC or Universal Product Code is specifically used in North America. UPC has two types – UPC-A (12-digit barcode) and UPC-E (8-digit barcode).
Yes, you can use EAN-13 barcodes to sell products online on various e-marketplaces. These marketplaces generally ask for the GTIN of your product, which allows them to auto-populate or auto-fetch all the relevant details.
If the barcode isn’t scanning properly, check under a different scanner. If it is still not getting scanned, check if the barcode is damaged/tampered with. If yes, then you will have to print a new barcode for your product.
A check digit is a single digit that is automatically generated and is used to validate the composition of a GTIN/EAN. It is mathematically determined through an algebraic equation.
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