We're used to seeing a series of vertical lines with numbers on products. This is a barcode, and most of us think it provides information about the country of origin. But a barcode also serves as a product's passport, containing several layers of technical data.

  Below we will analyze the features of using these product markers and list the main advantages of their application.

The history of the origin of barcodes

  Barcodes first appeared in the American city of Troy. It was here, in June 1974, that the first product marked with a universal product code (UPC) was scanned at the checkout of the Troy's Marsh supermarket.

  The inventor of this innovation was Joe Woodland. He received the inspiration for what became the barcode while sitting on Miami Beach. Joe drew the first lines with his fingers in the sand.

  The idea for this technology came from a supermarket manager who asked the dean of the Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia to come up with a way to move customers through his store as quickly as possible. The dean brought this problem to Woodland, who came up with a system of dashes and numbers.

Features of Using Barcodes

A standard barcode has 12 numbers. One on the left, one on the right, and two sets of five in the middle:

• The first digit is the system identifier. This is used to classify the product. The numbers zero, one, six, seven, and eight are standard UPCs (Universal Product Codes). The number two is used for randomly weighed items, such as meat, and three is for health-related products. Four is reserved for other non-food items, and five and nine are for promotions and discounts;
• The first set of five digits on the barcode corresponds to the manufacturer's number.
• The second set corresponds to the individual product number;
• The last digit is called the check digit. It is used to find errors.

Advantages of using barcodes:

• they are convenient for classifying goods by category and manufacturer;
• prevent the seller from making mistakes when entering product data;
• reduce the training time for store sellers;
• have a low cost of application;
• increase the convenience of inventory.

  Products with barcodes have become widespread precisely because they speed up the trading process. We recommend applying it to goods to anyone who values ​​order and speed in order processing.