Product code is a must and unique identifier assigned to each manufactured product for sale. In that case, UPC and SKU are referred to as numerical product codes. Having that said, a product code includes the label, the processing information, purpose of the product, container type, and other nook and corner features of that specific product.
SKU vs UPC
The main difference between SKU and UPC is that SKU is a scannable alpha-numeric barcode used as a method to track down the progress of the products. On the other hand, UPC is a numeric barcode that is used to record the products according to their features.
SKU is the acronym of Stock-Keeping Unit, which is referred to as a unique identifier or code for a distinct product in the sale. This type of measurement technique helps to identify that specific product from others in case of any claims. Retailers use SKU to calculate the scannable bar codes on the product to track down its progress.
In contrast, Universal Product Code is the abbreviated word of UPC, is also a type of product code in a black barcode beneath the scannable bar. UPC assists in distinguishing the products from others based on their features. While most consumers and businesses are inclined to the use of UPC.
Comparison Table Between SKU and UPC
| Parameters of Comparison | SKU | UPC |
| Meaning | SKU is referred to as a stock-keeping unit, which is used as a measurement technique, which calculates the scannable bar code on the goods, that determines the movement of inventories or stock used by retailers, e-commerce o,r any other small business. | Universal Product Code(UPC) is a black barcode and 12 unique digit numbers below the scannable bar, which is used to distinguish the product features among other products, hereby used by consumers & businesses. |
| Etymology | Back in 2010, James Brother- Hyde & Strachan introduced SKU to run their shipping services of inventories smoothly. | In June 1948, a graduate student Bernard Silver developed the barcode technology. |
| Purpose | SKU is a nifty technique as it tracks specific products of specific product lines, Identify any scams in inventories, Analysis worthy/profitable inventories, reorder the inventories or reconcile if the level of inventories is superfluous and not ample. | UPC helps to arrange eclectic products according to its group of features- size, nature, brand and colour etc.It will help to record the product’s information without any manual efforts and have a trackable record on the product whether any transaction was made. |
| Characters | SKU has a minimum of 8 to a maximum of 12 Alpha-numeric characters. | UPC is made of 12 unique characters which consist of numbers. |
| Mechanism | Create SKU in a germane character, with the mix of alphabetic & numbers, and stick it into the inventory. In order to track the count of inventories, scan the sticker(SKU). | UPC shouldn’t include any alphabetic and subsumes 12 digits beneath the barcode, which is later scanned in the warehouse or storage to check the various products aligned to a single group according to its features. |
What is SKU?
SKU is also known as Stock-Keeping Unit in the manufacturing field, is a type of measurement technique, which is used to calculate the scannable barcode on the goods to determine the progress of inventories or stock used by retailers, e-commerce, or any other small business. This technique has been very much famous since 2010 when James Brother of Hyde & Strachan initially introduced SKU to run their shipping services of inventories smoothly throughout the world by preventing any malpractices.
An SKU is made of alphabetic & numbers and stuck to the inventory. With this, one can track the count of inventories by just scanning the SKU sticker.
Speaking of which, SKU helps to track a specific product out of a product line, identify any scams in inventories, analyze profitable inventories, and reorder the inventories if the level of inventories is superfluous and not ample. Over and above, SKU has a minimum of eight to a maximum of twelve Alpha-numeric characters in its code format.
What is UPC?
Universal Product Code, shortly known as UPC, is also a type of product code in the form of a black barcode beneath the scannable bar. This type helps by distinguishing that specific product from others, relying on its features. Most consumers and businesses are familiar with the UPC strategy to run their merchandising.
This ubiquitous barcode technique was originally introduced by a graduate student named Bernard Silver in June of 1948. Subsequently, UPC was followed by every business around the market.
The strategy of arranging a myriad of products according to its group of features such as size, nature, brand, and colour, etc., is one of the reasons why UPC is essential.
In addition to that, it also helps to record the products’ information without any manual efforts and have a trackable record on the product to check its transaction status. Unlike alpha-numeric SKU, UPC is made of 12 unique characters which consist of numbers only.
Main Differences Between SKU and UPC
- SKU is a scannable barcode, which is used as a method to track down the movement of inventories. On the contrary, UPC is a barcode that is used to record the inventories according to their features.
- SKU was invented by James Brothers in 2010, whereas UPC was introduced in 1948 by a graduate student Bernard Silver to function as an electronic record of a product with the help of a Barcode.
- SKU helps to track the movement of inventories, analyze the availability or deficit of inventories and discover any scam in inventories. Meanwhile, UPC benefited businesses or consumers, where they don’t need to record manually as UPC records & stores the information of the products electronically.
- SKU consists of 8-12 Alpha-numeric characters, albeit UPC subsumes 12-digits unique numbers.
- SKU stickers are scanned by retailers for internal purposes to check the availability and movement of the inventories. On the other hand, UPC is also a barcode that is used by businesses in the warehouse to distinguish various featured products into a single product line.
Conclusion
SKU and UPC is a technique used in the business to perceive the availability of inventories or products. SKU is a scan code that is used to calculate the movement of inventories and contains a minimum of 8 to a maximum of 12 characters which are represented in Alpha-numeric characters. Besides, SKU tracks the movement of inventories that helps to analyze the scams, availability, and profit of inventories.
UPC is another method of recording the products according to their features such as -size, colour, or brand in an electronic manner without any manual help. UPC subsumes 12 unique numbers beneath the scannable black barcode. It helps the businesses to operate effectively and productively as it records the enormous products according to their nature, size, colour, or brand name features into the single product line. As is the case, there won’t be any ambiguity in checking the availability of a specific product.
References
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09593969.2011.562682
- https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.5555/1074100.1074890