In the logistics process, a label serves as a data carrier attached directly to the product, containing information such as the price, product characteristics, manufacturer, and expiration date. Most often, the data on the label (or part of it) is encoded using a 1D or 2D barcode.

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The history of barcodes dates back to 1932, when a group of students from Harvard University conducted an experiment using punched cards placed in a product catalog available in a store. The customer would select the item using a card, which the cashier would insert into a reader. The product was then delivered to the checkout, where a receipt was printed and inventory levels were updated.

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The first barcode consisted of four white lines on a black background, and one of the first barcode scanning systems was installed in a Kroger store in Cincinnati in 1967. Today, barcodes are one of the most widely used methods for labeling and identifying data.

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Barcode (Eng. bar code) is a graphical representation of information using a combination of dark and light elements, structured according to the specific rules of a given barcode type. A barcode enables automatic identification of information or objects (also known as Automatic Identification), without direct human involvement. Barcodes are designed to be read by electronic scanners.

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1D barcodes (one-dimensional), also known as linear barcodes, encode information in a single direction—horizontally. They are most commonly used where product identification is linear—meaning the same barcode is used for one product solely for identification purposes. One-dimensional barcodes are divided into two main types: UPC (Universal Product Code) and EAN (European Article Number).

Currently, two numerical types of UPC codes are in use:

• UPC-A (full version) – encodes 12 digits
• UPC-E (shortened version) – encodes 6 digits

There are also two versions of the EAN code:

• EAN-13, the standard 13-digit version
• EAN-8, the shortened 8-digit version, used for small packages where there is no space for an EAN-13 code or for single-product manufacturers. The EAN-8 code is assigned only in justified cases.

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2D barcodes (two-dimensional) are binary matrices—a graphical representation of information in the form of two-dimensional images composed of black and white squares. These can be scanned using a mobile phone with a digital camera and an app designed for reading photo codes.

A 2D code allows for storing significantly more information without increasing the physical size of the barcode. Additionally, a 2D barcode can store digital content such as images or sound. These codes are highly resistant to damage—thanks to built-in error correction mechanisms, a partially damaged 2D code can still be read correctly.

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A relatively new type of barcode is the so-called DataBar. Formerly known as RSS codes (Reduced Space Symbology), DataBar barcodes were introduced by GS1 to label small or hard-to-mark items (e.g. jewelry, medical tools or cosmetics, and retail products such as food items). The implementation of these codes began in 2010, introducing two main types: GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional and GS1 DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional. For companies equipped with devices capable of processing larger amounts of data, GS1 DataBar Expanded and GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked codes are also available.

DataBar codes can hold more data than traditional EAN/UPC codes, providing essential commercial information such as net weight, batch number, and expiration date, which is particularly crucial in the case of food products.

Thanks to barcodes, trade units (goods or services) can be easily and precisely identified. These are items to which a price can be assigned and which appear in the flow of the supply chain. This includes both bulk and individual goods, sold wholesale or retail, on domestic or international markets.

Barcodes are also used for the identification of a company's fixed assets, such as pallets, reusable packaging, or containers used for storing materials.

Barcodes make it possible to identify logistics units, i.e., those created for the purposes of transport and subject to identification, tracking, and management processes throughout the supply chain.

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The use of barcodes in a company leads to technical improvements, significantly reducing the time needed for information identification, which in turn leads to cost reduction. Barcodes also facilitate record-keeping and control tasks, eliminate large amounts of paperwork, improve and speed up customer service, optimize inventory processes, and enable automatic alerts for supply shortages.

Barcodes are used in the public sector, across many areas of business, and in logistics in the broadest sense. They are used to label medications, prescriptions, mail, shipments, websites, phones, and bills.

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Types of Barcodes

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Among 2D barcodes, we can also distinguish other types such as Aztec Code and Data Matrix. The former was created in 1995, and two years later it was released under a public domain license, meaning it can be used free of charge. The Aztec Code is continuous and modular, and comes in two variants:

• Compact – allows encoding of 12 decimal digits or 12 alphanumeric characters
• Full – allows encoding of 3,832 decimal digits or 3,067 alphanumeric characters

The name Aztec Code relates to its visual appearance: its core is a black square (or dot), surrounded by alternating black and white frames. This structure resembles the top view of an Aztec step pyramid, which inspired the name.

The Data Matrix code, on the other hand, was developed in the 1990s and, like Aztec Code, is licensed as public domain. Data Matrix is two-dimensional, matrix-based, and variable in size. Since it consists of square modules, two types of error correction codes are used:

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ECC 000–140, also known as convolutional codes, are most commonly used in radio broadcasting, telephony, and satellite communications.

ECC 200, which uses an advanced error correction system, is most frequently applied in consumer electronics and data transmission technologies.

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Barcode Printing

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It often seems that printing barcodes is very simple and nearly effortless. However, there are situations where a scanner fails to read a given code. The most common cause of such issues is poorly printed barcodes, which can create serious problems and significantly hinder control over marked goods or fixed assets.

If you decide to print one-dimensional and two-dimensional barcodes yourself, it’s important to consider the quality of the equipment you’re using to create the labels. Choosing the right printer and label material is essential to ensure barcode readability and durability.

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It’s worth knowing that barcodes can be printed using three different methods: digital, thermal, and thermal transfer.

• The digital method is perfect for producing low-volume prints.
• The thermal method allows printing only on thermal paper.
• The thermal transfer method works very well for small retail stores.

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How to correctly read barcodes?

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It all depends on the type of barcode—whether it is one-dimensional or two-dimensional. A special device is required to quickly decode what is behind a given symbol or number.

• One-dimensional barcodes are read using a laser beam directed at the code. This beam estimates the distances between the bars, their size, and color, allowing a photodetector to decode the barcode and send the obtained information to the user.
• Two-dimensional barcodes require imagery scanners, which also use a laser beam like conventional scanners. The difference is that imagery scanners can read both one-dimensional and two-dimensional codes, while conventional scanners can only read one-dimensional codes.

It is worth noting that an increasing number of mobile phones now have apps to scan and read QR codes; however, for scanning a large number of products, professional equipment performs much better.

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Advantages of Using Barcodes

1. One-dimensional barcodes:

• Enable fast verification
• Shorten the time for receiving and issuing goods
• High accuracy of data recording
• Lower likelihood of errors
• Cost savings

2. Two-dimensional barcodes:

• Allow encoding a large amount of information in a small space
• Have higher data capacity than linear codes
• Even partially damaged codes can still be read correctly
• Cost savings
• Can be used in various marketing campaigns

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What is used to read barcodes?

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As mentioned earlier, appropriate scanners are essential for locating and identifying a given product. One-dimensional barcodes can also be read using specific data, since the first three digits always indicate the country of the product’s manufacturer. The next four digits in the case of EAN-13 represent the manufacturer’s number, and the last five digits specify the exact assortment.

As you can see, both one- and two-dimensional barcodes are widely used and significantly simplify work. Proper product labeling helps with better and more precise classification, as well as real-time updating of inventory levels in warehouses or stores.

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If you want barcode reading to be quick and efficient, choose the right scanner and enjoy fast and convenient work. We encourage you to check out our offer, which includes scanners from well-known and trusted manufacturers.

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