What is GTIN WooCommerce? A Must-Have for Stores

If you’ve ever wondered how big stores keep track of all their products, GTIN WooCommerce is a helpful tool that does just that.

You’ve probably seen barcodes on items at the store, those are GTINs in action!

In this article:

You’ll learn exactly what GTIN WooCommerce is, why it’s important for your store, and how it can make managing your products simpler.

We’ll break down the different types of GTINs, how they improve product search, and why using them can help both store owners and customers. Let’s dive in!

What is a GTIN and Why Does It Matter?

A GTIN, or Global Trade Item Number, is like an ID card for products.

Just like every person has a unique ID or passport number, each product can have its own GTIN to identify it across the world.

Whether it’s a can of soda in a supermarket or a book in an online store, this number helps people and systems know exactly which product is which, no matter where they are.

So why does it matter?

Imagine you’re running a store with hundreds (or even thousands) of products, without some kind of system, keeping track of everything would be a mess! GTINs help store owners organize their inventory and make sure everything is labeled correctly.

This becomes even more important when you’re selling products online, especially on a global scale.

With GTINs, each item has its own specific identifier, making it easier to manage stock, avoid mix-ups, and help customers find exactly what they’re looking for.

In short:

GTINs make sure products are correctly identified, whether it’s for shipping, inventory, or even just scanning a barcode at checkout, it’s a simple yet powerful way to keep things organized.

Different Types of GTINs: EAN, UPC, ISBN

There are different types of GTINs, each used for specific products or regions.

Think of it like the way different countries have their own phone numbers or zip codes, it’s all about keeping things organized and easy to understand.

1. EAN (European Article Number)

This type of GTIN is mostly used in Europe. If you’ve ever bought something from a European store, like a snack or a toy, it probably has an EAN barcode on it.

The EAN is usually 13 digits long and helps stores track products across different countries in Europe.

2. UPC (Universal Product Code)

UPC is similar to EAN but is mostly used in the United States and Canada.

It’s 12 digits long and is super common for items in supermarkets or retail stores.

For example:

If you’ve ever scanned a product at a U.S. grocery store, that was likely a UPC in action!

3. ISBN (International Standard Book Number)

Now, this one is specific to books, if you’ve ever checked out a book’s barcode, especially in a library or bookstore, that’s the ISBN.

It’s a special type of GTIN used to identify books, making it easy to track them whether you’re buying a novel online or borrowing one from the library.

In WooCommerce stores:

These GTINs can be added to products to help manage inventory and make searching easier.

For example:

If you’re running an online store that sells books, using the ISBN ensures each book has its own unique code, so it doesn’t get mixed up with anything else.

Similarly, stores that sell products internationally may use EAN or UPC codes to help with global sales and inventory tracking.

How GTIN Helps with WooCommerce Inventory Management?

Imagine trying to organize a huge pile of toys without any labels, pretty tough, right?

Now, think of each toy having a special tag with a unique number, suddenly, it’s a lot easier to keep track of which toy is which, that’s exactly what GTIN does for products in WooCommerce stores.

Every item has its own unique number, like a fingerprint, which means no two products get mixed up.

You can quickly find out which products are in stock, which ones need restocking, and where everything is located in your system.

Well, let’s just say:

It’s like turning a chaotic mess into a neatly organized system, where every product is accounted for and easy to find.

GTIN and Customer Experience: Better Product Search

Think about how frustrating it is when you’re looking for something specific but can’t find it in a store.

Now, imagine if every product had a special code you could use to search and instantly find what you need.

That’s where GTIN comes in, and it’s especially helpful in big stores or for wholesale shopping.

• For customers:

GTINs make it super easy to search for products 👌

In a large store with thousands of items, searching for a product by name can bring up lots of similar options, but if a customer has the barcode (which is usually the GTIN), they can use it to find the exact product they’re looking for.

This is super handy when you’re trying to compare prices or find the right item quickly.

• In wholesale stores:

Where products are often bought in bulk, this is even more important.

Wholesale buyers might be looking for a specific product using its EAN or UPC code.

With GTIN, they can simply enter the barcode and instantly get the right match, saving them time and effort.

So, GTINs make the shopping experience smoother for customers, and ensure they find exactly what they need without any confusion.

It’s like giving customers a magic key 🔑 to unlock the exact product they’re after!

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How to Add GTIN to Your WooCommerce Store

WooCommerce doesn’t come with a built-in option to add GTINs to your products! This means you’ll need a little help from a third-party plugin to add those special product codes, like EANs, UPCs, or ISBNs.

Don’t worry, though, it’s not as complicated as it sounds!

By using a plugin:

You can easily create a field for GTINs that will help you manage your products more effectively.

One of the best options for this is:

“EAN, UPC, ISBN Generator: Product Barcode Inventory for WooCommerce” plugin, which makes adding GTINs to your WooCommerce store a breeze.

Here’s an example of what GTIN WooCommerce would look like in your store 👇

 

Why use Product Barcode Inventory Plugin?

This plugin is designed to help WooCommerce store owners automatically generate and manage barcodes for their products.

Here are some of the key features that make this plugin super useful:

1. Complete EAN/GTIN Support for Better Inventory Control

The plugin offers full support for EAN, UPC, and ISBN, making it easy to create barcodes for all your products, ensuring better tracking and organization.

2. Dynamic Barcode Visualization for Products & Variations

Whether you’re selling simple products or variations (like different colors or sizes), the plugin automatically generates and displays the appropriate barcode for each variation in real-time.

3. Bulk EAN Tools for Efficient Operations

Managing a large inventory? The bulk actions feature allows you to generate and update barcodes for multiple products at once, saving you tons of time.

4. Enhanced Search Capabilities with EAN Integration

Your customers (especially in wholesale) can search for products using the EAN or barcode, making it easy for them to find exactly what they need.

5. Display EAN Everywhere

From product pages to orders, emails, and admin panels, you can display barcodes wherever necessary, ensuring visibility for both store owners and customers.

With features like these, the EAN, UPC, ISBN Generator plugin is an excellent tool for you if you want to automate GTIN generation and ensure their inventory stays organized.

It streamlines the process, making it faster and easier to track products, whether you’re managing a small shop or a large online store.

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Setting Up the GTIN WooCommerce Plugin

➡ One of the best things about the ” GTIN WooCommerce – EAN, UPC, ISBN Generator” plugin is how easy it is to set up.

Whether you’re new to WooCommerce or already familiar with managing plugins, the setup process is straightforward.

➡ And if you need help along the way, don’t worry! The plugin comes with detailed documentation (Doc of EAN and Barcodes for WooCommerce) that covers everything you need to get started, from generating barcodes to displaying them on your product pages, the documentation walks you through every feature.

➡ It’s designed to be user-friendly, so even if you’re not a tech expert, you’ll find it easy to follow along.

➡ In just a few clicks, your store can be up and running with fully integrated barcodes, helping you keep track of your products more efficiently!

Conclusion About GTIN WooCommerce

Keeping your WooCommerce store organized is a challenge when you’re managing a lot of products. GTINs help by giving each item its own unique identifier, making it easier to track and organize everything from your stockroom to your customer’s cart.

Incorporating GTINs into your WooCommerce store improves efficiency and helps you stay on top of your product management, no matter how large or small your inventory is.

It’s a practical solution that makes the day-to-day operations of your WooCommerce store a lot smoother 👌

The EAN, UPC, ISBN Generator Barcode plugin simplifies the entire process, instead of manually assigning codes, the plugin automates the task, ensuring every product has a barcode that’s easy to manage.

This way, you can stay focused on running your store without worrying about getting lost in the details of inventory control.

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FAQs

• What do GTIN Numbers Mean?

GTIN stands for Global Trade Item Number, it’s like a name tag that products wear so they can be easily identified anywhere in the world.

Think of it as a special code that helps stores, warehouses, and customers know exactly which product they’re dealing with.

Every product can have its own unique GTIN, whether it’s a can of soda, a pair of shoes, or a book.

When you see a barcode on an item, that’s usually the GTIN in action.

These numbers help stores organize their products, track inventory, and make sure everything is in the right place.

It’s like how you have a student ID number at school, just for products!

• What are GTIN Numbers Used For?

GTIN numbers are used to identify products and make them easier to track.

Imagine you’re in a big grocery store with hundreds of different items, each one has a barcode, which is usually a GTIN number.

When the cashier scans it, the system knows exactly what the product is, how much it costs, and how many are left in the store.

GTINs also help with keeping inventory organized, store owners can quickly see what’s in stock, what needs to be restocked, and avoid confusion between similar products.

Plus:

GTINs are used around the world, so even if a product is sold in different countries, the GTIN helps everyone know it’s the same item.

It’s like a universal language for products!

• Do I Need a GTIN to Sell Online?

You don’t always need a GTIN to sell online, but it can make things easier, a GTIN, like a barcode, helps identify your products quickly and accurately.

Some online stores, especially big ones like Amazon, might ask for a GTIN to list your products because it helps them organize and track everything better.

If you’re selling a unique product, like something handmade, you might not need a GTIN.

But for products that are sold in many places (like electronics or books), having a GTIN can help customers find your items faster and make your store look more professional.

So, while it’s not always required, it’s often a good idea to have one!

• Is GTIN the Same for All Products?

No, GTINs are not the same for all products, each product gets its own unique GTIN, just like how everyone has their own name or ID number.

Even if two products look very similar, like two different brands of cereal, they’ll each have their own GTIN to tell them apart.

Sometimes, even different versions of the same product, like a red shirt and a blue shirt, will have different GTINs.

This helps stores keep track of everything and avoid confusion.

So, while every product has a GTIN, they’re all different to make sure each item is identified correctly!

• Is GTIN the Same as SKU?

No, GTIN and SKU are not the same, but they both help keep track of products.

A GTIN is a global code that works everywhere in the world, it’s like a product’s passport, so no matter where you are, that GTIN will always represent the same item.

An SKU (Stock Keeping Unit), on the other hand, is a code that a store creates for its own products, it’s like a nickname just for that store.

The same product might have different SKUs in different stores, but its GTIN will always stay the same no matter where it’s sold.

Both help organize products, the GTIN is used globally, and the SKU is used just in one store.