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As a small business, you may be reaching the point where your business is expanding beyond local sales, and you're looking into selling your products to a larger distributor, like a grocery store. When you reach this level of growth, one big question arises: “Do small businesses need barcodes?” The answer might surprise you.
The short answer: Yes! Once you begin expanding your product inventory and selling it to distributors and retailers, a handwritten label, or sticker with the price tag and item number will no longer cut it. Your products will need to have a professional barcode label to successfully make it through the supply chain.
In this blog you’ll learn why barcodes are the backbone of the supply chain, common misconceptions small businesses might have about barcodes, and how to get started with the right barcode label design solution to set your company up for long-term success.
DOWNLOAD BARCODE SOFTWARE FOR MY SMALL BUSINESS
Before you jump into the world of barcode labeling software, it’s important to understand what barcodes are and how they work.
Barcodes are visual codes made up of black and white patterned lines and spaces that can be scanned and read by computers. Each barcode stores information about the product, helping businesses identify and track items quickly and accurately throughout the supply chain.
Barcodes are used globally across all industries, from manufacturing and retail to food & beverage. There are over 100 types of barcodes, each having a specific purpose. They are generally categorized into 1D and 2D barcodes. Some of the most common 1D barcodes are UPC-A, EAN, Code 39, and Code 128; some common 2D barcodes are QR codes and DataMatrix. As your small business grows and begins selling to distributors or wholesalers, you’ll need to work with GS1, the global organization that sets barcode standards.
GS1 is a global not-for-profit organization that provides the framework for real-time product identification, tracking, traceability, and supply chain efficiencies. GS1 barcode standards are the global language of business between your suppliers, partners, and customers. Creating GS1 barcodes efficiently and accurately is crucial for day-to-day operations of businesses around the globe.
Learn all about barcode basics in our other blogs.
Now that you understand the basics of barcodes, let's look at some common misconceptions we’ve heard from small businesses when it comes to barcodes and their labeling processes.
Many small business owners assume barcodes are only necessary for large companies shipping products all over the world. But in reality, barcodes benefit businesses of all sizes. From local retail shops, florists, and bakeries to pharmacies, auto parts shops, and bookstores, barcodes help streamline inventory, improve accuracy, and scale your labeling.
It's easy to assume that creating barcodes and using barcode labeling software is difficult or not worth the cost. But when you compare it to the risks of manual processes such as compliance fines, product recalls, or costly errors, the investment quickly pays off.
Many small businesses start with handwritten labels or Excel spreadsheets. And while that might work fine in the early stages of your business, the second you start taking on more responsibilities, having more inventory with more SKU’s, growing in sales, and eventually selling to distributors; manual labeling will become time-consuming and increase the risk for error.
By switching to barcode labeling software that connects to your database or online tools like Google Sheets or Excel Online, you can create efficiency by having all your data connected and stored in one place. That way when your inventory grows or edits need to be made to your spreadsheet, your labels will get updated too.
At first glance, barcodes might all look the same, but there are over 100 barcode symbologies to choose from. Different barcode symbologies store and communicate data in unique ways, which affects how distributors, manufacturers, and retailers identify your products. If you choose the wrong symbology, some barcode scanners might not be able to read the barcode; your product data might be misrepresented, or retailers could reject your products entirely, which can cost your business time and money to fix.
Using barcode label design software and helpful wizards makes it easy to select the right barcode type, or switch from a 1D barcode to a 2D barcode as your labeling needs evolve. Not sure which barcode type you need? Read our blog on how to choose the right barcode symbology.
If you're familiar with the misconceptions above, it’s time to take the next step in your barcoding journey. Barcodes are the backbone of the supply chain and shouldn't be an afterthought. Not only do barcodes improve accuracy in your labeling process, but they save time, strengthen your brand’s reputation, and help you remain compliant with industry standards.
Implementing a barcode labeling system sets your company up for future growth. As your operations expand, tracking inventory, managing multiple product lines, meeting retailer and distributor requirements, and designing compliant labels is going to be more important.
With business growth comes higher expectations for product transparency. Today, consumers and buyers expect more visibility into the products they purchase and are longing for consumer trust. QR codes make that possible because they can store more data than the traditional 1D barcode. Consumers can scan the QR code and get brought to a webpage with all the product information they need. If your small business is already using 1D barcodes, transitioning to 2D barcodes will be easy because you will be more familiar with barcodes and the barcode labeling system that creates them.
As you begin selling to larger distributors or retail chains, your barcodes will need to be GS1 compliant. Working with GS1 ensures your products can easily be identified throughout the supply chain.
GS1 barcodes can easily be created in label design software, but first you have to purchase the GS1 Company Prefix and Global Trade Identification Number (GTIN) from your local GS1 office directly.
Get started by licensing a GS1 Company Prefix or a GS1 US GTIN. TEKLYNX partners with GS1 US, so you can get authentic UPC Numbers (GTINs) directly through GS1 US by clicking the appropriate link below. You will be taken directly to the GS1 US store. When completed, come back to TEKLYNX and use our GS1-compliant barcode label design software.
Learn more about GS1 standards. Watch the short video below to learn how to create a GS1 barcode in LABELVIEW.
LABELVIEW barcode label design software is the best solution for your small business because it has all the features you need to be successful in your labeling process.
It's also easy to transfer your label templates to CODESOFT, our advanced label design software, when your small business continues to grow and you need more complex label design features.
Watch this short video on how to create a barcode in LABELVIEW.
Whether you’re a small business just getting started or you’re preparing to expand into new markets, barcodes are a foundational part of growth and professionalism. They ensure accuracy, improve efficiency, and help your products move seamlessly through the supply chain.
By understanding how barcodes work, avoiding common mistakes, and investing in the right barcode labeling software, you’re setting up your company for long-term success. With the right tools in place, you’ll spend less time fixing errors and more time focusing on what matters most, growing your business.
Download a free 30-day trial of LABELVIEW to explore how a barcode labeling system can simplify your labeling process as your business grows.
Nicole Lepkowski is the Customer Support Manager at TEKLYNX, where she actively coaches her team to ensure each customer's needs are met quickly and carefully. With over nine years of experience working with TEKLYNX software users, Nicole is dedicated to raising the bar in customer support and helping companies throughout the supply chain barcode better. Outside of her role at TEKLYNX, Nicole enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.
A check digit is an extra number added to a barcode to help detect errors. Barcode check digits are calculated using algorithms during both barcode creation and scanning. If the scanned check digit matches the created check digit, the barcode was scanned correctly. Check digits are foundational to barcode data integrity, validation, and quality. In this blog, we’ll dive into what check digits are, how they work, and why they’re important.
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Este blog examinará la serialización de códigos de barras, analizando sus conceptos fundamentales, los beneficios que puede ofrecer a las empresas y sus amplias aplicaciones en múltiples industrias. Ya sea que su industria esté regulada o no regulada, le invitamos a aprender cómo la serialización de códigos de barras puede dar forma al futuro de su negocio.
SABER MÁS
In today's fast-paced and competitive business world, the importance of professional barcode labels cannot be overstated. These small, often overlooked pieces of your product’s packaging can have a significant impact on your company’s success. Clear and concise labels with readable barcodes are a tool for branding, inventory management, point of sale, order fulfillment, and establishing strong retail sales and distribution relationships.
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