#What is the serial number vs upc code#

– SKU length – SKU’s can be whatever length you want them to be as determined by your system. The system could just be substituting a SKU for you automatically. So just because you scan a UPC barcode and see a price does not mean that your system keeps track of pricing at the UPC level. However, it may be the case that when you scan that UPC on the package it actually does a “cross reference” or “look up” and substitutes the SKU behind the scenes. This may indeed be what is happening if your retailer’s system keeps inventory or pricing at the UPC level. – Look up’s and Cross References – Someone above mentioned that they use the UPC barcode to look up prices and inventory. Anyone who tells you it must be at a certain level is really just telling you what they have experienced with their system, not what is necessarily common in the industry. The point is, it is up to your system to decide at what level you want to keep track of pricing. There is even a concept called PLU (Price Look Up) that is not as common but can be used in conjunction with Styles and SKU’s. Some keep track at the Style level, some at the SKU level, and some at the UPC level. – Pricing – A retailer can decide to keep track of pricing at any level they choose. alpha) is completely arbitrary and is up to each individual retailer. Any relation to pricing, inventory, size of the fields, or type (numeric vs.

– SKU – Stock keeping Unit – This is an identifier assigned by a retailer that is used as the smallest unit by which they want to keep track of stock. But it is most commonly used as a numeric number like in UPC-A. It uniquely identifies an item throughout the world.

#What is the serial number vs upc code#

– UPC – Universal Product Code – It is a universally agreed upon product identifier assigned by the manufacturer (or sometimes the retailer, but not as often). There is a lot of confusion about UPC’s and SKU’s and the information provided here, although mostly correct, is leading to some confusion. On the other hand, SKU is a string of alpha and numeric characters. Characters and letters are not used in UPC but only numerals are used. SKU comes with an 8 digit number and the UPC comes in 12 digit codes.ĥ. An identical product may have different SKUs if sold by different companies.Ĥ. Stock Keeping Unit is unique to the companies or retailers. SKU or Stock Keeping Unit is a specific number assigned by the store or the company for keeping a tab on the stock and also the price of the various products.ģ. UPC or known as Universal Product Code is a standardized bar code that gives a vivid description of the products.Ģ. While the Stock Keeping Unit is beneficial to the company or stores, the Universal Product Code is of help to the customers.ġ. UPC only gives details about the products like its price, contents, manufacturers and so on. But through UPC one cannot know what stock is left. SKU helps in keeping track of the stock of the products very easily.

An identical product may have different SKUs if sold by different companies.Īnother difference that can be seen between the two is that SKU comes with an 8 digit number and the UPC comes in 12 digit codes. On the contrary, A retailer or a store or company affixes SKU to identify the products. A product that is bought from one store if taken to another store will not have a change in the UPC. The Universal Product Code is the exact number code affixed to a product, wherever it is sold. SKU is only applied to the products and services for in house mechanism. While UPC is considered to be a universal code the SKU is not universal. On the other hand, SKU or Stock Keeping Unit is a specific number assigned by the store or the company for keeping a tab on the stock and also the price of the various products. UPC or known as Universal Product Code is a standardized bar code that gives a vivid description of the products. But these two codes stand for different things. UPC and SKU are codes that are assigned to products.