Managing SKUs, Barcodes, and UPCs

Julie  Houlton
Julie Houlton
  • Updated

In this article: 

What is a SKU? 

A SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) is a unique identifier assigned to each individual product variant in a catalog. It helps track inventory, manage orders, and streamline operations.

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Best practices for creating SKUs

  • Use a mix of letters, numbers, and hyphens ( - )
  • Keep SKUs 12 characters or fewer when possible
  • Avoid slashes ( / ) and backslashes ( \ )

These characters are escaped by the system but can still cause issues in URLs and API queries, especially if your SKU is also used as an Originator ID.

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Requirements

  • Maximum 255 characters
  • No spaces
  • If your product has an official UPC, use that as the SKU instead of creating a new one.

Lightbulb-1.pngA consistent naming pattern like DESIGN-COLOR-GENDER-SIZE keeps things organized.

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Barcodes and scancodes

A barcode is a machine-readable code in the form of numbers and a pattern of parallel lines of varying widths. In RyderShip, the result of the scanned barcode is called a Scancode.

barcode.png

All retail items must have a barcode to ensure inventory accuracy and traceability. Each product is assigned at least one barcode and a corresponding scancode in RyderShip.

If the product already has a printed barcode, that barcode will be used as the scancode in RyderShip.
If there is no printed barcode but the item has a SKU, the SKU will be assigned as the scancode, and barcode stickers will be applied at the cost specified in your contract.

Lightbulb-1.png Barcodes generated by RyderShip are not UPC codes. If a UPC is required, it must be purchased separately from an authorized UPC vendor.

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Required barcode formats

We support a broad range of barcodes, including but not limited to:
  • UPC/EAN
  • Code 128
  • Code 39
  • Code 93
  • Code 11
  • Various 2 of 5 types
  • GS1
  • 2D (QR codes), with advance notice for sourcing scanners and limited to specific facilities

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Duplicate SKUs

You can learn more about managing duplicate SKUs here.

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