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SKUs, barcodes and manufacturers

How item codes work, how to add barcodes, and what the Supplier field is for

A SKU is the code that identifies one sellable item. A barcode is the number printed on the item. They are separate fields.

Before you start

  • You need the Shop Manager role.
  • Open a product, or start a new one, from Products.

SKUs

Every standard product and every variant has a SKU.

  • Leave SKU blank and the Shop assigns one for you. Automatic SKUs are sequential numbers that start at 00001 and grow as your catalogue grows.
  • Type your own if you already use a coding system. A SKU can be up to 64 characters.
  • Each SKU must be unique in your shop. If it isn't, saving fails with a message such as "Sku '123' already exists."

For a standard product, the SKU field is in the Identity section. For a variant, open Edit on its row. The SKU field shows Auto until you type your own. You can change it later.

Add barcodes

  1. In Identity (or in the variant's Edit variant window), click in the Barcodes field.
  2. Type the barcode and press Enter, or click away. It appears as a tag.
  3. To scan instead, select Scan and hold the barcode up to your device's camera.
  4. To remove a barcode, select the x on its tag.
  5. Save the product.

You can add several barcodes to one SKU. This helps when a manufacturer changes the barcode on an item over time. You don't need to remove the old one.

A barcode identifies the item type, not each individual item. Two units of the same SKU have the same barcode.

Note: A barcode can only belong to one item in your shop. If it's already used, saving fails with "Barcode '…' already exists."

The Supplier field

You may see a Supplier field in Identity, a Default supplier in the Variants section, and a Supplier field in Edit variant. These are for recording who makes the item.

Choose the supplier from your shop's list. The list holds each supplier's name, description and contact details, so you pick the same supplier every time instead of retyping it. If the supplier you need isn't on the list, add it to the list first, then come back to the product.

The supplier is only a record for your own reference. Families don't see it.

Good to know

  • Your SKU and barcodes are kept with the item. When you scan an item's barcode in FlexiPOS, the matching item is added to the order. See Take Shop orders in FlexiPOS.
  • A SKU is assigned as soon as you save, even as a draft.
  • When you duplicate a product, the copy gets new SKUs and no barcodes, because those must be unique.
  • Each variant has its own SKU and its own barcodes. See Manage product variants.

Troubleshooting

I get "already exists" when I save. Another item in your shop already uses that SKU or barcode. Search Products for it, or enter a different code.

I can't save my SKU. Check it's 64 characters or fewer.

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