If you’re new on the block and have a load of products you’re planning to retail, you might be looking into obtaining barcodes – but that process isn’t as easy as you may think it to be.

I personally wouldn’t even know where to start.

Then you get someone like Barcodes, who do just about everything for you.

Whether your business is in Jozi, Cape Town or Tietiesbaai, you’ll require barcodes for inventory and records purposes. But before you dive in, there are a few things you should be aware of when it comes to getting just any barcode:

Quality

Barcodes you buy should be of the highest quality possible. This ensures they won’t fail due to image quality or data quality. If the barcode is damaged in some way or isn’t clear enough, the barcode scanner will not be able to read it.

Colour Combos

Certain colour combinations can predispose a barcode to failure. These include barcodes that have red bars against a white background or black bars against a green background.

Size and type

Both of these elements are critical. According to Barcodes South Africa, here’s why – get ready for some jargon:

The standard UPC & EAN-13 Code image for SA is 37.3 mm wide by 25.9 mm high. If it is too small or too big, the barcode scanner will not be able to read it. If the barcode is too small or too big, it can also give rise to problems. Some products are really small and they require smaller barcodes. EAN-9 and UPC-E Barcodes are used for these smaller products.

UPC-A barcodes are 12 digit barcodes used mostly in America and Canada.

The rest of the world, including South Africa, has 13 digit EAN Barcodes.

It is thus very important to determine your exact use and product before obtaining any barcodes – and make sure your barcode scanner is up to scratch.

But for all your barcode needs, there’s no doubt that SA Barcodes are the leaders in the South African game because of their integrity and trustworthiness. A proudly South African company, they pride themselves on their excellent customer service.

Look them up – HERE – and know that if you’re ever needing a barcode, Barcodes is the company to use.