To what extent does code type and symbology play a role in bar code implementation?

What exactly is a bar code? Codes have been in use for materials and goods for a long while now. Bar code is a representation of such codes in a unique white and black format.

An important aspect here is the standardization of the codes themselves by global organizations in an attempt to make them in a universal common language and also to assign unique identification codes to articles across the world. To this end, different types of codes (also called symbologies) have emerged such EAN, UPC, etc designed by a range of organizations in different arenas at different points of time for different purposes.

There are roughly 15 such code types or symbologies. In its most basic form a scanner is designed to read the bar code and output the corresponding material code which it represents. From a technical point of view, the scanner software has algorithms for all commonly used symbologies and so it does not really matter what code and symbology is used for implementation.

However, code selection becomes important from an industry perspective. Some industries have traditionally used certain code standards or find it convenient to use a certain code type because of the nature of the product. It then becomes important to check the type of codes used downstream of the supply chain – the suppliers and the reasons for the selection to have more widespread usage of the bar codes and easier acceptance of them across the supply chain