What is the difference between UPC code and SKU?

Modified on Tue, 23 Dec at 2:12 PM

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To enable the effective sale of items on PivoHub, it is necessary to provide basic information that helps each of the parties involved work efficiently.

UPC codes

The UPC code is the unique universal barcode that your customers will use to scan your items, it must be unique, by format, by packaging. UPC codes are not internal and must be claimed from an official organization (like GS1). These codes allow your customers to quickly place your products on the shelves.

Why is this important? : UPC codes facilitate inventory management and improve product traceability.
How to add them? : Access your account, select the relevant products, and enter the UPC and Pack UPC codes in the designated fields.

SKU or inventory management code (internal)

The term "SKU" stands for "Stock Keeping Unit" in English. It is a unique alphanumeric code assigned internally to each product or service to facilitate inventory management, billing, stocktaking, and ordering.

Unique Identification: Each SKU is unique and allows for the distinction of a specific product among other similar products. For example, two beers of different sizes will have different SKUs.
Inventory Management: SKUs help businesses track inventory levels, identify products that sell well or poorly, and manage restocking.
Billing and Inventory: SKUs can be used in point-of-sale (POS) systems and inventory management software to record sales and update inventories in real time.
E-commerce: In online commerce, SKUs are essential to ensure that the right products are displayed, ordered, and shipped. All e-commerce platforms assign a SKU to every product sold. If it is missing, the platform will create a new one, but if you want to facilitate your retailers' operations, a good practice can be to share it with them.

Unlike the UPC code, the SKU is not standardized by an external organization. It is an internal tool used by each company to manage its inventory. Sharing the SKU simply provides an additional means of ensuring a satisfactory level of control over the exchanged products.

Remember to update your products regularly! It's a guaranty of quality for retailers, a time-saver, and a way to identify any input errors on your part. Keeping a complete and up-to-date catalog is a good way to list your business..