In this article, I will attempt to explain the differences between these types of product identification. First, a brief description of each type of product identification.
EAN13 (barcode):
EAN13, commonly known as a barcode, is the correct name for European Article Number. It is a 13-digit code. To generate an EAN13 code, the manufacturer must register and obtain their own manufacturer identifier. It is used for product identification such as type, name, and price. The code itself does not contain this information but allows IT systems to associate the product with additional information stored in IT systems. This code is assigned to all products of a particular type (brand, name) that will be produced.
Example:
[1234567890123]
[1234567890123]
[1234567890123]
[1234567890123]
...
The code can be printed as a barcode, QR code, or saved in an NFC/RFID chip.
SKU (Stock Keeping Unit):
SKU, which stands for Stock Keeping Unit, is an internal product identifier. This code primarily aims to identify the product within the company and track stock levels. This identifier can be arbitrary and may consist of characters and numbers. It does not require registration. Most often, it is assigned, like EAN13, to all products of a particular type.
Example:
[SK0-13ADEC]
[SK0-13ADEC]
[SK0-13ADEC]
[SK0-13ADEC]
[SK0-13ADEC]
...
The code can be printed as a barcode, QR code, or saved in an NFC/RFID chip.
Batch Number (code):
In industrial terms, the batch number (or batch code) is the designation, in numbers and/or letters, used to identify and trace a set of identical products that share certain characteristics of production (production time, production date, identification code, etc.). It does not require registration.
Example:
Products produced on 20/10/2023
[BC-201023-A]
[BC-201023-A]
[BC-201023-A]
...
Products produced on 22/10/2023
[BC-221023-B]
[BC-221023-B]
[BC-221023-B]
...
The code can be printed as a barcode, QR code, or saved in an NFC/RFID chip.
UUID (Universally Unique Identifier):
A Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) is a 128-bit label. It is a globally unique identifier that does not require registration and can be generated at any time by the manufacturer. It consists of numbers and characters. It can be applied to identify each manufactured product.
Example:
[550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000]
[faf22423-cb11-4cc2-9b58-d017b0ede32b]
[abaacf0f-20f6-45fe-a9d5-d4b551fa24b2]
[70d1c8fe-05ba-4127-bf6b-aacc71b2ddf2]
...
The code can be printed as a barcode, QR code, or saved in an NFC/RFID chip.
By using the UUID code, you can track each individual product from its production to recycling. Therefore, it is worth considering the implementation of UUID for product identification.
