Businesses, institutions, and groups in various sectors—from healthcare to local government offices to warehousing—have started to appreciate the adaptability and dependability of different barcode labels.
Barcodes are a fantastic low-cost technique for data collection, whether for ticketing, shopping, patient identification, or advertising. The only issue is deciding which type of barcode label is best for you and your company.
What Is a Barcode Label?
A barcode label is a specialized tool designed to efficiently identify and track items, including inventory, pricing, shipments, and assets. Each barcode consists of a unique combination of parallel lines, spaces, and numbers that can be quickly scanned by a reader. This scanning process retrieves detailed information—such as pricing, stock levels, shipping status, usage history, and more—within seconds.
Barcode labels are essential in streamlining operations across industries by improving accuracy, reducing manual errors, and boosting productivity. From managing warehouse inventory to enabling seamless checkout processes, these labels are the cornerstone of modern tracking and identification systems.
What Are the Different Types of Barcodes?
Unique codes differentiate barcode labels. Each code is specific to a particular barcode and tailored to the needs of a given industry.
Here are the barcode label types:
- Code 39
Also referred to as Alpha 39, this standard alphanumeric code has 43 characters. Uppercase letters (A to Z), numerals (0 to 9), special characters, and even spaces are among the characters used in Code 39. However, code 39 does not use check digits since it indicates that the barcode is self-checking. Its simplicity gives Code 39 an edge over other barcode labels, enabling you to integrate it into an existing printing system easily.
- UPC-A
UPC stands for Universal Product Code. The purpose of this code is to track commercial or consumer goods. A 12-digit code is provided for every item. This makes it simple for store owners to scan and keep track of every item’s sale. Most nations use this barcode, including Australia, Canada, the United States, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
- EAN-13
EAN, short for European Article Number, is a subset of the UPC barcode system. The EAN-13 format consists of 13 digits, 12 of which are data digits, and the remaining digit is a check. Widely used in the retail industry and on products globally, this barcode format is especially prevalent in the European Union and Japan.
- EAN-8
Considered the successor of EAN-13, EAN-8 consists of two or three GS1 prefixed digits, a 4 or 5-digit item reference section, and a checksum digit. While EAN-13 was designed for large products, the EAN-8 barcode was designed for small items. Examples of these products include pencils, chewing gum, and cigarettes.
- Code 128
This high-density barcode can be a replacement for Code 39 as the Code 128 format contains only numeric or alphanumeric codes. It helps determine different types of products in the shipping and packaging industries. Its primary use is to identify containers and pallet levels.
- QR Code
An abbreviation of Quick Response, the QR code is a 2-dimensional barcode. Initially, it was designed for the automotive industry to track vehicles during the manufacturing process. However, it became popular for other applications due to its quick scanning capabilities. Today, the QR code’s primary purposes for time tracking, product tracking, item identification, and document management.
- Datamatrix
The primary purpose of a matrix barcode is for commercial goods and small electronic components. The Datamatrix consists of modules in black and white that are often square or rectangular in design. The DataMatrix barcode has the benefit of being able to store almost 1556 bytes of encoded data.
Barcodes offer various advantages for product sales, assets, time tracking, and other areas. You can select the best-identifying strategy for your sector and products by understanding the many types of barcodes.
Barcode Label Applications
How can barcode labels benefit your business? Here are a few examples of how printed barcodes can enhance your company’s productivity, along with recommendations for the materials needed to create these labels based on the criteria we’ve discussed.
- Inventory Management
Retailers frequently use barcodes on their incoming products as part of a more extensive stock control system. This enables them to know precisely the number of items on hand, their location in the warehouse, when additional stock will be required to accommodate a surge in demand, and other details that affect the inventory turnover ratio and the company’s carrying costs.
- Fixed Asset Management
Fixed assets are the long-term items of property that can generate money, such as computers or vehicles, and manufacturers and government agencies frequently need help finding them. Barcodes can assist in establishing a check-in/check-out system for fixed assets, so they stay visible due to negligence or theft, which could result in expensive ghost assets and workflow slowdowns. Businesses can affix barcodes to goods frequently used outside (such as cameras or machinery) and can be confident that they will endure the test of time by printing asset labels on acrylic materials using a desktop printer.
- Ticketing and Other Identification
Hospitals often face the challenge of losing or encountering errors in crucial patient or medication information when it’s not recorded properly. Similarly, companies that print out tickets for sporting or music events may need to quickly produce tickets that clearly display important details, such as access levels. In both cases, mobile printers offer a solution, enabling hospitals and arenas to generate small, legible barcodes on paper or polyolefin materials. These barcodes are ideal for short-term use, providing durability and easy readability when needed most.
In terms of applications, we are only scratching the surface of what barcodes can do for your business, big or small. Barcodes are remarkably powerful for relatively old-school technology. With the help of burgeoning barcode label printing technology, it will only become easier to integrate into existing business models. There are few limits on the size, shape, and form of barcode labels and fewer on how to apply them yourself.
Looking for reliable, high-quality barcode labels and ribbons? Trust ProScan Media Products to deliver the solutions you need. Contact us today at (289) 372-3043 to get started!
