An EAN (European Article Number) code, also known as UPC (Universal Product Code) in the United States, is a unique barcode identifier assigned to commercial products.
The purpose of EAN (European Article Number) codes in retail business is multifaceted:
Product Identification: EAN codes provide a unique identifier for each product, enabling accurate tracking and management of inventory.
Checkout Process: EAN codes are scanned at the point of sale (cash register) during the checkout process. This allows for quick and accurate recording of purchases, reducing the chances of errors and facilitating smooth transactions.
Inventory Management: Retailers use EAN codes to manage their inventory efficiently. By scanning products in and out of stock, they can track product levels, monitor sales trends, and reorder items as needed to maintain optimal stock levels.
Supply Chain Management: EAN codes are utilized throughout the supply chain, from manufacturers to distributors to retailers. They help streamline logistics operations by providing a standardized way to identify and track products through the distribution network.
Data Analysis and Reporting: EAN codes enable retailers to gather valuable data on sales performance, customer preferences, and product popularity. This information can be used to make informed decisions about pricing, marketing strategies, and product assortment.
The benefits of using EAN (European Article Number) codes in retail business are numerous:
Efficient Inventory Management: EAN codes enable retailers to track and manage their inventory more accurately and efficiently. By scanning products with EAN codes, retailers can maintain real-time visibility of stock levels, track product movements, and streamline inventory replenishment processes.
Improved Checkout Experience: EAN codes expedite the checkout process at the point of sale. Cashiers can quickly scan products, reducing waiting times for customers and minimizing errors in pricing or product identification. This leads to improved customer satisfaction and increased efficiency at checkout counters.
Enhanced Product Identification: EAN codes provide a standardized and unique identifier for each product, making it easier for retailers to organize their merchandise effectively. With EAN codes, retailers can differentiate between similar products, manage assortments more efficiently, and reduce the risk of stocking errors.
Streamlined Supply Chain Operations: EAN codes facilitate seamless communication and coordination throughout the supply chain. From manufacturers to distributors to retailers, the use of EAN codes enables better tracking and tracing of products, improves inventory visibility, and enhances overall supply chain efficiency.
Data-driven Decision Making: EAN codes generate valuable data on sales performance, customer preferences, and product trends. By analyzing EAN code data, retailers can gain insights into consumer behavior, optimize pricing strategies, tailor marketing efforts, and make informed decisions to drive business growth and profitability.
Global Compatibility: EAN codes are standardized and internationally recognized, making them compatible with retail systems and practices worldwide. This allows retailers to expand their reach into global markets and seamlessly integrate with supply chain partners across borders.
Maintaining multiple EAN codes in HQ is a straightforward and essential part of the business. In the retail business, it's very common that an item will have multiple EAN codes and there is a very high chance that the business may have both stocks in the shop. Gofrugal gives you the freedom to maintain both the information for the same article or item minimizing the probability of item duplication and excessive number of items in the item master.
Below are the steps to maintain multiple EAN codes in HQ:
Step 1: Go to MDM > Item Master Management > EAN Code Master
Step 2: Click on "Bulk add/update EAN Code" button.
Step 3: Select Bulk EANCode Creation to Add new EAN Codes.
Step 4: Put the Item Name, EAN Code, and Rate, then click on the Save button.
Step 5: Click on Bulk EANCode Update to update/delete the EAN code.
Step 6: Search the EAN code and if you want to change the Rate just double-click on the Rate field and change it. If you want to delete the record completely, tick on the Delete check box and click on the Save button.
As a conclusion, EAN codes play a crucial role in the efficient operation of retail businesses by providing a standardized method for product identification, inventory management, and sales tracking.