In today's trade world, barcodes are vital for product tracking and management. Especially UPC and Ean barcodes stand out as the most widely used systems worldwide. However, both barcode systems offer various advantages in different geographical regions and commercial processes. In this article, we will look at the differences of UPC and Ean barcodes and which one may be more appropriate for your business.
Contents
History of UPC and Ean Barcode
The entry of barcodes into our lives is considered one of the most important turning points of modern trade. This technology, which revolutionized product identification and management systems, started in 1971 with the UPC barcode developed by IBM. The Universal Product Code (UPC) was designed to accelerate and facilitate retail operations in the United States and Canada. This 12 -digit code has seriously improved the payment process by providing fast scanning at the sales points and automated the inventory management.
On the other hand, Europe had to produce a solution to this development according to their needs. European countries, which need an additional figure to represent different countries, have developed their own systems. Ean (European Article Number) Barcode is a 13 -digit system that emerged by adding a country -specific code. This more global solution has become suitable for use in different countries of the world and played a major role especially in international trade. The simultaneous presence of UPC and Ean formed the basics of modern barcode systems and facilitated the processes in the global market.
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Definition of UPC and Ean Barcodes
Barcodes are important technological tools that enable the quick and accurate identification of products in modern trade. Both the UPC and Ean barcodes have a wide usage area in the retail sector and are used to uniquely identify products. While the UPC is generally preferred in the North American market, Ean is widely used in Europe and other regions.
Visual: Barcodestalk.com
Both barcode types have been developed to optimize retail processes, facilitate inventory management and accelerate payment processes. Although the main purpose of both systems is the same, the small differences between them vary, especially according to use areas and geographical regions.
What is UPC Barcode? What does it do?
The UPC (Universal Product Code) is a 12 -digit barcode system and provides great convenience for retailers. This barcode defines the products uniquely and helps to scan their prices quickly at sales points and to make payments smoothly. This system, which revolutionized the retail sector in the 1970s, makes it significantly easier for inventory management. The UPC barcodes integrated into the sales point systems automatically automate stock tracking by providing a unique definition for each product.
Retailers use this barcode both increase business efficiency and provide faster service to customers. This system, which is widely used in North America, allows businesses to reduce their operational costs and optimize their processes.
What is Ean Barcode? What does it do?
Ean (European Article Number) is a barcode system widely used in Europe and many other countries. This barcode, which consists of 13 households, has been developed to define products uniquely and accelerate payment processes. Unlike UPC, Ean barcodes have been expanded by adding a country -specific number and thus found a more international usage area. This code system allows quick recognition of products in global trade and facilitates cross -border transactions.
Ean barcodes provide great convenience in the inventory management and sales point of retailers. This system, which is accepted by Europe, as well as many countries, allows businesses to manage their products smoothly in the global market.
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Comparison of UPC and Ean barcodes
UPC and Ean barcodes show various differences from origins to use areas. The following table summarizes the basic differences between these two systems. You can review the table to get more detailed information about barcode systems.
| Ean | UPC | |
| Area | Europe and Global | North America |
| Number of numbers | 13 | 12 |
| Country code | Including | Not including |
| Leading zero | Improperly | Applicable |
| Compatibility | World -wide | USA and Canada |
| Scanning technology | Compatible with most global systems | If the global market is having disruptions can be lived |
| Conversion | Country code can be converted to UPC | It can be converted to Ean by adding zero to the head. |
| Topicality | More compatible with modern systems | More compatible with old systems |
| Data capacity | More product code capacity | More limited unique codes |
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Last word
Today, both UPC and Ean codes are among the sine qua non of global trade. It is vital for the quick, reliable and accurate identification of products and to ensure that stock management and sales processes are smoothly. Although used in different regions, both barcode systems have gained a strong place in the modern retail world.
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References:
- https://tritonstore.com.au/UPC-vs-ean/
