Barcodes are everywhere and for all the right reasons. They help encode larger information into machine-readable patterns that can look like a set of lines or blocks with some spaces between them. With time and the evolution of technology, the use of barcodes is only increasing by the day. Since there are barcode types, choosing the correct one for your needs may be challenging. To help you out, we have divided multiple barcode types according to the different industries where they are extensively used. You can easily decide which one is suitable for your needs.
Choosing Barcodes for Retail Business
The retail industry is heavily dependent on barcodes. From managing inventory to checkouts, barcodes are essential at each point in the retail landscape. The most common barcode symbology used in retail is UPC or Universal Product Code. They are printed on product tags and contain crucial information, such as the pricing, origin of the product, and batch details. Hence, most retail stores use a UPC reader to scan these codes. There are two types of UPCs used in retail, UPC-A and UPC-E.
Other commonly used barcode symbologies in retail are EAN or European Article Number. They can be classified as EAN-13 and EAN-8. These codes are considered standard retail product identifiers in Europe and other parts of the world. EAN codes include the country code, manufacturer and product details.
Some more barcode types extensively used in retail are Industrial 2 of 5, Code 93, QR Codes, DataMatrix Codes, and GS1 Composite codes. You can choose any of these barcode symbologies based on the operation and the type of information.
Which Barcodes to Use in Logistics, Shipping & Receiving?
In the USA and Canada, UPC-E codes are used for warehousing. Industrial 2 of 5 code is used for warehouse sorting. Interleaved 2 of 5 is a higher-density barcode designed to withstand high printing tolerance, making it perfect for logistics and packaging. Codabar, Code 39, and Code 93 are also extensively used in shipping, tracking, and logistics. PDF417 barcodes are also used in logistics and transport.
Popular postal and mail barcodes are MaxiCode, USPS Intelligent Mail, Postnet, Planet, Australian Post, and UK Royal Mail. Based on your requirements, pick from any of these to get started.
Choosing Barcodes for Healthcare Industry
DataMatrix codes are 2-dimensional barcodes that have been considered a standard of ISO/IEC 16022 since 2000. As high-density barcodes, they are used to label pill bottles and medication. Hence, they help track medication authenticity in healthcare.
Pharmacode or Pharmaceutical Binary Code is a one-dimensional barcode used for pharmaceutical product verification in the healthcare industry.
Barcodes for Electronics and Telecommunications Business
Code 11 is a high-density discrete barcode used to label telecommunications equipment. It is also called the telecommunications equipment barcode.
DataMatrix barcodes are used for Direct Part Marking (DPM) to track and manage electronic components and equipment by permanently etching barcodes onto them.
Which Barcodes are used by the Government?
PDF417 barcodes are found on driver\'s licenses. Other common barcode types used in government operations are DataMatrix codes, Code 39, etc.
Barcodes Used in Advertising and Marketing Business
QR codes or Quick Response Codes are two-dimensional barcodes that help advertisers and marketers promote their products and services. QR codes can be linked to landing pages via URLs and provide a variety of ways to promote and market products.
So, that was all about barcode symbologies and their uses in different industries. You can choose the ones per your needs and make the most of them.