GS1 Barcodes – Correct setup for Amazon products

In the competitive world of e-commerce, it is crucial for business owners to understand and implement the right tools for product identification and management. One of these key components is GS1 barcodes. This blog post will guide you through the process of correctly setting up GS1 barcodes on your Amazon products, which is an essential part of running a successful online business.

Understanding GS1 barcodes

First, let’s clarify what GS1 barcodes are and why they are important. GS1 barcodes are a global standard for unique product identification numbers (known as GTINs). These barcodes ensure that every product can be tracked and identified worldwide, which is critical for inventory management, supply chain efficiency, and sales optimisation.

Obtaining a GS1 barcode

To obtain a GS1 barcode, you must first register with GS1. The process involves:

• Applying for membership.
• Selecting the right barcode type for your products.
• Receiving a unique GS1 company prefix, which forms part of every GTIN.

Creating GTINs for your products

Once you have received your company prefix from GS1, you are ready to create GTINs (Global Trade Item Numbers) for your individual products. It is essential to understand that each GTIN must be unique and specifically assigned to a single product. This means that every variant of a product – whether different sizes, colours, or other specifications – requires its own distinct GTIN for accurate identification and tracking.

To ensure these numbers are created correctly, it is important to follow GS1’s guidelines closely. These guidelines include understanding the precise structure of a GTIN, which contains your company prefix, an item reference, and a check digit. The company prefix is the unique sequence of numbers assigned to your business by GS1, and the item reference is a sequence you assign yourself to identify each individual product or product variant. The check digit is the final digit in the GTIN, calculated using a specific formula to ensure the integrity of the number.

It is also crucial to maintain good internal records and management of your GTINs. This includes keeping accurate records of which GTINs are assigned to which products, and ensuring these details are kept up to date, especially if there are changes in your product range.

Registering products on Amazon with GS1 barcodes

Once your barcodes are ready, it is time to register your products on Amazon. This involves:

• Entering the GTIN for each product in Amazon Seller Central.
• Ensuring that the product information is accurate and matches the GTIN.
• Uploading images of the product, including a clear view of the barcode.

Complying with Amazon’s policies

It is absolutely crucial to comply with Amazon’s policies regarding GTINs and barcodes to avoid potential complications for your business on the platform. Amazon imposes strict requirements that all products sold on the platform must have valid and unique GTINs. This ensures that each product can be uniquely identified and tracked throughout the Amazon system, which is important for both inventory management and the customer experience.

GTINs play a key role in Amazon’s ability to maintain high standards for product listings and to ensure a reliable purchasing experience for customers. They help to prevent confusion and duplication of products, which is vital on a large and diverse marketplace like Amazon.

Violations of these policies, such as using invalid or duplicate GTINs, can have serious consequences. Amazon may choose to remove the affected product listings from their platform, resulting in significant disruption to your sales and potentially damaging your company’s reputation. Further penalties may include temporary or permanent suspension of your seller account, which could have long-term negative consequences for your ability to do business on Amazon.

Benefits of correct use of GS1 barcodes

Correct use of GS1 barcodes on Amazon can provide several benefits:

• Improved inventory management and product tracking: With GS1 barcodes, you can accurately track the movement and availability of your products throughout the supply chain. This enables better inventory management, meaning you can optimise stock levels and reduce the risk of overstocking or running out of products. Effective stock management also ensures products are available to customers when needed, thereby improving customer satisfaction.
• Increased trust among customers and partners: When your products are marked with globally recognised GS1 barcodes, it signals professionalism and reliability. Customers are more likely to trust products with clear and correct identification marks. This not only builds trust with customers, but also strengthens your relationships with business partners, suppliers and distributors, as it demonstrates a commitment to standardised and professional business practices.
• Reduction of errors in the supply chain: Correct use of GS1 barcodes reduces the risk of errors in the supply chain. When every product has a unique identification, the risk of confusion and errors in order handling, shipping, and inventory management is minimised. This leads to a streamlined supply chain, saving time and resources and reducing costs associated with error handling.

Does it all sound a bit confusing? Then contact us at WeMarket, where we have the right experience and expertise to help guide you in the right direction.