What Is Universal Product Code (UPC)?

If you've ever been to a supermarket, you've probably seen that little barcode on some products. The Universal Product Code (UPC), also known as "Universal Product Identification Code" or simply "barcode," The Universal Product Code (UPC) is a 12-digit barcode that is assigned to a consumer product to identify it and its manufacturer. The barcode consisted of a series of variable-width vertical bars and was created by IBM in 1973 for tracking merchandise in stores, mainly at the point of sale (POS). The use of UPC has since spread to other countries, such as the UK, Canada, Australia, etc. The UPC allows manufacturers and retailers to keep track of their inventory by scanning the codes on their products. It helps them avoid overstocking or understocking items, leading to lost sales and unhappy customers. The UPC was initially intended for use in the grocery supply chain; the standard has been adopted in many industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, and even government. The UPC standard is flexible enough to accommodate different business needs, which is why it has become so widely adopted. Did you know that there's a little more to that barcode than just a string of numbers? It's true! The Universal Product Code is a unique number assigned to a specific product. The first six digits of the UPC are the manufacturer identification number, which means that this number is the same for all products produced by that manufacturer. The second set of six numbers pertains to the item itself and maybe only assigned to a single thing. If a manufacturer registers more than one product, it has to pay to get a unique number for each product. UPCs are like barcodes for your products. They help you keep track of all the stuff you make so that if you want to sell all of it, it's not a huge hassle.