How to Check Barcode: Protect Your Interest with GS1 India

In today’s global marketplace, the importance of accurate and unique product identification cannot be overstated. A product’s barcode, often represented by a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), plays a crucial role in managing, selling and tracking products efficiently. Whether you’re a retailer, manufacturer, or online marketplace seller, ensuring the authenticity of the products you receive is important in building customer trust and loyalty. GS1 India, the authorised issuing authority for barcodes beginning with ‘890’ in India, plays a pivotal role in ensuring the authenticity and reliability of these codes. In this blog, we will understand how to check barcodes and discover how retailers and e-marketplaces can validate product barcodes they receive by leveraging GS1 India’s GTIN Validation service. 

Understanding Barcode Check

Barcode checking, or GTIN validation, is a process that helps ensure the uniqueness and authenticity of a product’s barcode. By verifying the GTIN, businesses can validate that the barcode corresponds to legitimate product information, including the manufacturer’s details, product name, and brand.

For marketplaces, validating barcodes is important to verify product authenticity, mitigate counterfeit goods, and prevent errors in product listings. Without a proper barcode check (GTIN Validation), there’s a risk of receiving counterfeit items, which can lead to financial losses, reputational damage, and legal issues.

How to Check Barcode: Step-by-Step Guide

1. Visit GS1 India’s GTIN Validation Page – Visit GS1 India’s website and use their official GTIN validation tool. This tool helps businesses check if the product barcode they received is valid or not. 

2. Enter the Barcode Number (GTIN) – Retail products have a 13-digit/8-digit number right below the barcode, which is called the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN). Find this barcode number on the product packaging or label and enter this number into the validation tool.
   
3. Validate Details – After entering the barcode number, the tool will show information about the product. This includes the brand name, manufacturer, and product details. If the GTIN is invalid, the tool will not show any product information registered with it.

Why GS1 Barcodes Are Crucial for Brand Protection

GS1 India plays a vital role in protecting businesses. Here’s why it’s important:

• Genuine and Authentic Barcodes: GS1 India ensures that each product is allotted a unique GTIN, which helps prevent duplication. This is essential for accurate product tracking and inventory management.

• Compliance with Regulatory Requirements – GS1 barcodes are the only barcodes that meet compliance with global supply chain standards and regulatory requirements. 

• Faster Product Listing – GS1 barcodes enable faster listing on online marketplaces like Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Ajio, Nykaa, etc. 

• Detailed and Accurate Product Information – The application of GS1 barcodes on products ensures only accurate and detailed product information is shared with stakeholders. This information is directly from brand owners through DataKart – the national product data repository.

• Counterfeit Mitigation: Counterfeit products can confuse customers and damage a brand’s reputation. Implementation of GS1 barcodes along with other industry practices can help brands mitigate counterfeits in the market.
  
• Supply Chain Visibility: Barcode helps businesses track products throughout the supply chain. This transparency ensures products are not adulterated in transit.

Conclusion

Checking the validity of barcodes is essential for ensuring the authenticity and accuracy of the products you sell. Barcode verification helps protect your business from counterfeit goods and inventory mistakes. GS1 India provides a trusted platform for barcode registration and validation, making it easier for businesses to use genuine barcodes.

To protect your brand and improve your supply chain operations, make sure you register and validate your barcodes with GS1 India. Visit GS1 India’s official website today to start using their GTIN Validation service.