EAN (International Article Number) barcode in .NET

About EAN Symbology

EAN (International Article Number) is a group of barcode standards used to uniquely identify products in a retail environment. EAN barcodes consist of a series of vertical bars and spaces that represent identification digits for a product and its manufacturer. Such barcodes are usually printed on product packaging or labels and are scanned at the point of sale to facilitate the checkout process. There are several different types of EAN codes, including EAN-8 and EAN-13. EAN barcodes are widely used in the retail industry and are a critical part of the supply chain management process.
For more information about this barcode type, see our information article:

EAN

EAN Features

• Global Identification: EAN provides a global identification system for products, enabling efficient tracking and management throughout the supply chain. It ensures the unique identification of items, facilitating inventory control and accurate stock replenishment.
• Variable-length Encoding: EAN supports variable-length encoding, which allows storing different types of data, such as the manufacturer's identification number, product code, and check digit. This flexibility enables the encoding of specific product details and improves data processing.
• Multiple Variants: The EAN barcode group includes various formats, such as EAN-13 and EAN-8, which differ in the number of digits they can encode. It enables the adaptation to different product types, sizes, and packaging requirements.

Applications

• Retail and Point-of-Sale: EAN is widely used in retail environments for product identification and pricing. It enables efficient checkout processes, accurate inventory management, and robust integration with point-of-sale systems. EAN barcodes provide retailers with real-time product information, allowing for efficient stock control and price accuracy.
• Inventory Management: EAN is often used in inventory management systems across industries. It enables accurate product identification, tracking, and reconciliation. Owing to the ability to encode variable-length data, EAN serves to implement efficient stock control, minimize errors, and improve supply chain processes.
• E-commerce: In the era of online shopping, EAN is essential for product identification and inventory synchronization between online platforms and physical stores. They enable accurate product listings, efficient order fulfillment, and reliable shipment tracking.
• Healthcare: EAN is utilized in the healthcare industry to label medical devices and pharmaceuticals. It supports tracking, traceability, and patient safety by ensuring accurate medication administration, inventory control, and product recalls.

Variable-length encoding, global compatibility, and multiple variants of EAN make it a widely adopted and reliable solution for product identification and inventory management across industries. Owing to its standardized format and the possibility to ba integrated into various systems, EAN continues to be an important tool for businesses seeking effective product identification and supply chain optimization.