Barcodes in WooCommerce

Definition

Barcodes in WooCommerce are machine-readable codes (usually numeric or alphanumeric) used to uniquely identify products. They help streamline inventory management, order fulfillment, and product tracking across both online and offline environments.

🟢 Good or Bad?

✅ Very Good — barcodes reduce human error, speed up logistics, and improve inventory accuracy.
🚫 Can be ineffective if misconfigured or inconsistently applied across variations or categories.

📌 Why It Matters

Whether you manage a warehouse, retail shop, or just want to print labels for shipping — barcodes help you organize your products, automate scanning, and avoid costly mistakes. It’s especially critical for stores with large catalogs or physical handling.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

• Using duplicate barcodes across multiple products 
• Not assigning barcodes to variations 
• Choosing barcode formats not compatible with POS systems 
• Forgetting to include barcodes on packing slips or invoices 

💡 How to Improve It

• Assign unique barcodes (like EAN-13 or UPC) to each product and variation 
• Display barcodes on product pages and order emails if needed 
• Use printable barcode labels for in-store scanning 
• Choose a plugin that supports both frontend display and backend management 

🔌 Recommended Plugin

EAN and Barcodes for WooCommerce
This plugin lets you generate, display, and manage barcodes (EAN, UPC, ISBN, custom) for products and variations. It includes options for auto-generating codes, barcode printing, searching by barcode, and even shortcode integration for frontend visibility.

🛒 Real-World Example

A merchant sells books and uses ISBNs as product barcodes. With a scanner and barcode labels generated from the plugin, warehouse staff can pick and pack orders faster and more accurately — no more wrong shipments or manual typing.

🔗 Related Terms

• SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) 
• Product Variation 
• Inventory Management 
• Point of Sale (POS) 

❓ FAQs

Does WooCommerce support barcodes out of the box?
No, you’ll need a plugin to generate and manage barcodes.

Can I print barcodes for product labels?
Yes — the WPFactory plugin supports printable labels and integration with scanners.

What barcode formats are supported?
With the EAN & Barcodes plugin, you can use EAN-13, UPC, ISBN, and even custom formats.