What Is a UPC?
Universal Product Code (UPC) is a numerical code used in Barcode technology to track items within a retail supply chain. A UPC identifies an individual Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) in reference to a retailer’s database.
Barcodes have been in retail use since the 1940’s. In the 1970’s, the grocery industry formed the Uniform Product Code Council (UPCC) to develop what would become the UPC. The UPCC settled on an IBM proposed barcode system in 1972 and the first item was scanned commercially on June 26, 1974. It was a pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit chewing gum. By 1980, over 10,000 manufacturers were marking their products with UPC barcodes. By 1992, over 100,000 manufacturers used UPC’s. The UPCC later shortened its name to Uniform Code Council (UCC) and later became GS1 US.
UPC technology allows retailers to identify products and capture accurate information to improve marketing and replenishment of goods. Stores can provide a faster and more accurate check out for customers, while gathering information and controlling inventory more efficiently. UPC barcodes also allows retailers to share information with suppliers and manufacturing partners.
UPC barcodes consist of printed series of lines, intended to be read by an optical scanner in a retail environment. Most commonly, this is at the Point of Sale (POS). UPC barcodes also include an International Article Number (EAN for the original named European Article Number) that identifies the manufacturer and product type. UPC numbers typically have between 8 and 13 digits.
The UPC continues to evolve with the demands of retail. The next step, Electronic Product Codes (EPC), is currently being piloted with several major retailers.