No, generally barcodes are not the same for the same product across different manufacturers or variations of the same product. Each unique product requires its own unique barcode.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Barcodes are used to identify products uniquely throughout the supply chain, from manufacturing to retail. A barcode contains encoded information that represents a product's identification number (like a UPC or EAN).
- UPC (Universal Product Code): Primarily used in North America.
- EAN (European Article Number): Used globally, including Europe. (Now referred to as International Article Number or IAN).
These codes are assigned to products by standards organizations like GS1. Each distinct product variation (e.g., different flavors, sizes, colors) requires its own unique barcode. While a manufacturer may use the same prefix for all of its products, the remaining digits will be unique to each specific item.
Why Unique Barcodes are Important:
- Inventory Management: Accurate tracking of inventory relies on each product having a unique identifier.
- Sales Tracking: Retailers need to differentiate between products to accurately record sales data.
- Pricing: Unique barcodes allow for different pricing strategies for different products, even if they are similar.
- Supply Chain Management: Allows for tracking a specific product through the various stages of production, shipping, and sales.
Example Scenario:
Imagine two different brands of coffee, "Brand A" and "Brand B". Even if they both sell 12 oz bags of medium roast coffee, they will not have the same barcode. Furthermore, "Brand A" might sell a 12 oz bag of dark roast coffee. This different roast will also have a different barcode than their medium roast.
Therefore, each unique product variation requires a distinct barcode to be properly identified and tracked.
