At Webshippy we use a barcode identification system to keep track of storage and our precise inventory. It is also the barcode that ensures error-free identification during the reception and packaging of the orders. Your products must clearly display the barcode since all our processes depend on it. However, don’t get discouraged if you currently don’t have barcodes. In the following guide we will assist you on how to assign appropriate barcodes to your products.

A barcode is a method of representing data with a special coding method in a chain of machine-readable characters. Data is represented by varying the widths and spacings of parallel lines. These barcode images can be scanned by special scanners, called barcode readers, which can decrypt the codes into the original character chains.

The most well-known, international standard for barcodes is the EAN code consisting of 13 numbers. Webshippy can read the EAN codes on your products perfectly. The organization that controls and evaluates EAN codes is GS1. They can provide you with the help you need at a certain charge. (https://gs1hu.org/szolgaltatasaink/azonositas-es-vonalkod).

Our system also recognizes codes generated in the CODE128 format. You can even use this to turn article numbers, type numbers, fantasy names etc. into barcodes. Moreover, the CODE128 service is a free service, accessible and available to everyone.

ISBN number, as a barcode

Webshippy is able to recognize and decode all kinds of barcodes created from a character chain of letters and numbers. You can create an EAN code in the case of books for example, if you request a so-called ISBN number for them. This is also a character chain consisting of 13 digits that can be placed on your books in the form of barcodes. For further information about requesting an ISBN number, contact your local registrator.

(https://www.isbn-international.org/agencies).

Now let’s take a look at what’s needed for your products to get a barcode.

If your products don’t have an EAN code, in the first place, create a character chain for each of them (one for each article number) that you would like to use as a barcode. These barcodes are just as unique as the article numbers. Since there are already special article numbers assigned to your products in your webshop, it’s the most convenient solution to just use these as the character chains for your barcodes. Of course, you can choose other codes too, the most for us is that all your products (article numbers) have a barcode assigned to them (at Webshippy the article number and barcode are closely linked).

It is important to note, that the barcode you create can only contain numbers, letters without accents and hyphens. Avoid accented letters, spaces and special characters (@_&#?, etc...).

The recommended length of the barcode is minimum 4, maximum 10 characters!!!

Once you’ve chosen the character chains for your barcodes assigned to each article number, generate them into barcodes (images made of bars). You can find a multiple free tools on the internet to do this (e.g. run a search on ‘free online barcode generator’). You will have to save the barcodes (images) generated in jpg., png or svg format, and then you can print and stick these labels on your products.

The first important aspect is the size and location of the barcode. The size and visual aspects of the product, as well as the place and quantity of written text on it, are the aspects that ultimately determine where and what size of a barcode you can use. You need to make sure that the barcode appears in whole and is not broken up.

There is an even more important aspect than size: the resolution. No matter how large your barcode is, if the resolution is low, scanners will not be able to read them. You can detect this problem yourself if the lines are crooked, lacks contrast and the surface is blurred. On the other hand, a needle- sharp, contrasted barcode of straight lines and high resolution, no matter how small it is, can be scanned easily. You can get best results at home with a laser- or a special label printer.

A third essential aspect is the color of the barcode. Barcode scanners read the variation between the reflection of the white - and absorption of the black sections. This is why contrast between these two colors is crucial. The most sensible thing is to pair black and white, or perhaps dark and light colors. Red is an exception as scanners generally are “blind” to the color red. With a transparent material (label), if you stick it on a non-white surface (e.g. dark or patterned surface), it is advisable to ask for a white under-layer to create enough contrast between the barcode and the background.

Although we can only verify your barcode in our warehouses, at the point of reception, you can check them with a barcode scanner application on your mobile phone. If your phone recognizes and reads the barcode immediately without having to adjust the focus, chances are that you have a good quality barcode. However, if the phone is already slow to recognise the code, it is almost certain that scanning will cause problems for us too.

You can verify your barcode by taking a picture of it: Zoom into the picture 2-3 times and if you see crooked, uneven lines, probably your barcode is not up to standard.

We suggest you send us some samples (stickers the same size, material and condition of the final version, or a product with a barcode) to check and make sure we can read your ready barcodes with our devices.

The longer the character chain for your barcodes is, the longer the barcode will be. This can hinder readability. So, try not to use a character chain longer than 6-10 digits.

Due to the specificities of barcode generation, barcodes consisting of only numbers are shorter than ones consisting of the same number of letters. We recommend you use numbers rather than letters. For letters, use the letters of the English alphabet, and numbers between 0-9. Don’t use accents!

A barcode can’t begin with zero (0)! If the EAN code begins with a zero, don’t register it in our system because our scanners will not be able to read it.

Don’t use any special characters or spaces

Don’t use any special characters (@, question mark, full stop, comma, exclamation mark, underscore) and spaces as the system is not able to read them and it will cause confusion. Only use letters without accents, numbers, and perhaps hyphens.

Shiny surfaces reflect back the infrared rays of the barcode scanner making it impossible to scan the image. On a matt surface there will be no issues.

It is not only the quality of the barcode that determines readability, but the location of it too. You must place the code on your product to make it easily accessible and visible for the scanners.

The biggest mistake is when the barcode is placed on a round surface in a rounded way, making it impossible to read from a straight angle. Be aware that scanners will not be able to read them. Another common mistake is when the barcode is covered in a closed plastic or foil wrap. It frequently occurs that the barcode is placed inside the product, and the packaging needs to be opened, or someone has to reach inside the package in order to be able to see the barcode. It’s quite a hinderance when a barcode is placed on the inside the cover of a book also.

If you avoid these mistakes, reading your barcode will be no problem at all.