Optimize your success on marketplaces by mastering EAN code management. Discover why this unique identifier is essential for organizing your products, avoiding errors and boosting your visibility. With Shippingbo, learn how to take full advantage of EANs to turn logistics into a performance driver for your e-commerce!
In the world of e-commerce, success on marketplaces requires impeccable organization, and the EAN code plays a key role in this success. More than just a barcode, the EAN is a unique identifier that enables e-tailers to standardize their products, facilitate inventory management and strengthen their presence on platforms.
Whether you sell on Amazon, Cdiscount or any other marketplace, effective EAN management helps you avoid errors, optimize your logistics performance and maximize your visibility. Find out in this article why EANs are essential to your omnichannel sales strategy, and how Shippingbo can help you make the most of them.
What is the EAN code?
The EAN (European Article Number) code is a unique 13-digit barcode that identifies every product on the market in a standardized way. In a context where marketplaces and sales channels are multiplying, the EAN is becoming indispensable for harmonizing catalogs and avoiding identification errors. It facilitates item traceability, optimizes inventory management and simplifies the logistics process. An essential asset for e-tailers seeking greater efficiency and precision.
The origin of the EAN code
The history of barcodes dates back to 1949, when two researchers, Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver, developed the idea of an automatic product identification system. Inspired by Morse code, they created an optical recognition technology. However, at the time, computers and scanners were not available to the general public, and their invention was still awaiting development.
The first significant commercial use of barcodes occurred in 1974, when a pack of chewing gum was scanned for the first time in an Ohio supermarket. This barcode, the precursor of the EAN, is the 12-digit UPC (Universal Product Code), still used in the USA. Europe then got hold of the idea, and in 1977 the 13-digit EAN code was officially introduced to harmonize international standards.
In France, the adoption of barcodes began in 1980, notably on food products such as galettes de Fouesnant, while chains such as Carrefour and Casino began equipping themselves with readers as early as 1982. The popularity of the EAN code spread rapidly, enabling rapid product identification and optimized inventory management. Today, GS1, the global organization responsible for assigning EAN codes, continues to evolve this technology to meet the growing demands of traceability and modern logistics.
With 8 billion products scanned worldwide every day, the EAN code has revolutionized commercial practices by offering unrivalled reliability and speed. However, changing consumer habits are prompting us to consider alternatives such as QR codes or NFC technology, which are better suited to the new challenges of commerce, particularly for the management of second-hand items and enhanced traceability.
Why use the EAN code?
To succeed on marketplaces, the use of an EAN code has become essential for e-tailers. This unique code provides much more than simple identification: it is a real lever for visibility and management of your products. Here are the main advantages it offers online sellers:
- Unique, precise identification: Ensures that the same product is uniquely recognized, even when sold by several sellers on different marketplaces, avoiding duplication and confusion.
- Optimize online visibility: Enable product promotion on Google Shopping, essential for attracting online shoppers and guaranteeing the visibility of your offers at the best price.
- Improved search engine optimization (SEO): Google uses the GTIN/EAN to precisely identify products, increasing their visibility in search results. Thanks to standards such as GS1’s “SmartSearch” standard, your products are better positioned on search engines.
- Easier inventory management: The EAN enables optimized management, automatically identifying the product, its stock, location and price, thus speeding up and simplifying logistics processes.
- Enhanced traceability: The EAN ensures complete tracking of the product, from manufacture to delivery to the end consumer, guaranteeing transparent and efficient traceability.
What are the different types of barcode?
Barcodes are essential for identifying and managing products in a standardized way, and different types exist depending on the specific use and level of information required. Here are the most common barcodes and their special features:
EAN-13
This is the most widely used barcode for everyday consumer products in European and global retail outlets. Made up of 13 digits, it is widely used in supermarkets and is compatible with the majority of checkout systems. The EAN-13uniquely identifies a product, facilitating its tracking throughout the supply chain. It’s a worldwide standard for mass distribution, and particularly effective for retail sales.
UPC (Universal Product Code)
Mainly used in the USA, the UPC barcode is very similar to the EAN, but has only 12 digits. It performs the same basic function as the EAN, ensuring unique product identification for tracking and inventory management. Although the UPC is limited geographically, it is often recognized by international systems, making it adaptable to cross-border sales between the USA and other countries.
GTIN (Global Trade Item Number)
The GTIN is a global product identifier, encompassing several barcode formats, including EAN-13 and UPC. It can have 8, 12, 13 or 14 digits, depending on product type and region. As an international standard, the GTIN simplifies exchanges between different countries and systems, guaranteeing compatibility of information. This barcode is particularly useful for companies operating on global marketplaces, as it ensures universal product recognition.
QR Codes (Quick Response Codes)
QR codes are two-dimensional barcodes that can contain a large amount of information, instantly readable by smartphones. Unlike other types of barcode, QR codes are not primarily used for logistics management, but to provide consumers with additional information, such as product details, promotions or instructions for use. Although less common in traditional logistics, QR codes are proving to be an excellent communication tool for enhancing interaction with consumers.
Manage multiple barcodes with Shippingbo
Shippingbo makes multi-barcode management a strategic asset for e-tailers working with multiple suppliers. Thanks to this feature, you can associate different barcodes with the same product, simplifying logistics tracking. For example, if a product is supplied by two different partners, each with its own barcode, Shippingbo enables you to record these codes in a single product sheet. This solution helps you avoid scanning errors, particularly during key processes such as inventory or picking, by automatically recognizing any associated barcode.
This option considerably reduces the risk of errors, improves the efficiency of your operations and ensures smooth inventory management, even with products with multiple barcodes. Choose Shippingbo for intuitive, high-performance logistics tailored to the growth of your business.
Find out today how Shippingbo can transform your logistics management into a real performance driver:
