Confused in choosing which product code to use-ASIN, UPC, EAN, ISBN?. As an Amazon seller, you need to know that every product has its identification numbers.
Codes are a way to identify your products unique and this is often considered to be an inventory management best-practice.
By reading this article completely, you can understand when to use each number format and how to map each code back to the product so you can track your inventory.
1. AMAZON ASIN
If you are planning to sell on amazon, to become a seller or you already a seller, then knowing about ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) is important.
Because Amazon as a retailer is so vast, they need all their items to have their own number for their warehouses to recognize which products to sell.
Every third-party seller is responsible for marking their inventory with the correct ASIN so that it will end up in the correct location.
Finding an ASIN is easy if you search on Amazon. The ASIN will be in the URL of an item. If you are having trouble locating it, the item description will also have an ASIN listed in the details.
This helps both you and the marketplace keep track of inventory. It also prevents them from accepting orders for products that have run out.
2. UPC
UPC (Universal Product Code) as the name implies, this is the number that is universal. No matter which platform you are using, this number will be recognized and associated with your product.
This is the number that is used to make barcodes and will be used by the manufacturer to help understand how many items are sold worldwide.
A UPC is most typically 12 digits long. Those numbers reflect the size and weight of an item.
If you have a brand-new product with no UPC assigned to it, you will need to register your item with GS1.
Once your product has a code assigned to it, you can order as many barcodes as you need in order to label your items ready for sale.
3. EAN
The EAN is the same as a UPC, except it has a single digit country code prefixed to it, thus making it 13 digits long.
EAN (European article number) is used similarly to UPC, just commonly used in Europe over the United States.
If your customer base resides in the US and Canada, stick to a UPC, if you’re selling internationally, you’ll need an EAN.
4. ISBN
ISBN – International Standard Book Number. Just as products have a UPC code assigned to it, every book has an International Standard Book Number.
Every book, magazine and even e-book published needs to have an ISBN unless you are self-publishing.
Books and published media often travel and sell all around the world, hence the ISBN is a good way for a publisher to keep track of how much it is selling on amazon and where.
Each country has a national ISBN agency. Depending on where you live, you need to approach the agency with information about the book and author.
CONCLUSION:-
You need to know how all the codes work, you will order from manufacturers with UPC or ISBN and sell on Amazon with ASIN. If you sell on other platforms your focus will be on UPC or EANs.
Coding may seems like a hassle, but without a unique code to identify products, you may just end up shipping the wrong product.
By now, you can get a clear idea about the Amazon codes right, start selling products on amazon.
