Product Identifiers

Every product sold on Amazon’s website has several digits that are associated with it – these numbers and letters are known as the product identifiers. Product Identifiers consist of a unique barcode which is assigned to a product to help it be recognized  – a unique barcode which is assigned to a product to help it be identified. These make the lives of manufacturers, sellers, and buyers easier as everyone can quickly find specific products with that item’s unique code. A product identifier serves as the universal language of a given marketplace, and easy access to these codes can accelerate a seller’s processes. It helps manufacturers and sellers keep track of products that are being mass produced and sold internationally. Without them, the world of online selling would likely dissolve into chaos. Amazon product categories will define the designated type of product identifier number (Product ID) which needs to be used when adding new product pages and listings. 

Amazon Product ID requirements:

• Many categories have specific UPC/EAN and GTIN guidelines that sellers are required to follow when creating product pages. These include requirements for products sold as bundles and requirements for products sold as packs.
• UPC requirements may vary across categories or for different types of products in the same category. 
• Sellers must use the correct product identifier for the item they are listing. The use of false product identification information, including UPC codes, is prohibited.
• ISBN barcodes are required when uploading listings for books.

Sellers need to give particular attention to product identifiers as they have slight variances between them. While many different formats exist, including UPC, EAN, GTIN, and ISBN for books, Amazon uses Amazon Standard Identification Numbers (ASINs). An ASIN is unique to Amazon and within that, each Amazon marketplace. So, an ASIN in the U.S. may differ from the same product’s ASIN in Germany. Each product listed on Amazon is required to have an accompanying ASIN, and for new products uploaded into the Amazon catalog, new ASINs will be created. Sellers and buyers alike can enter the ASIN in the search option on Amazon and arrive directly to the product.

ASIN ( Amazon Standard Identification Numbers)

Amazon Standard Identification Numbers (ASINs) are unique blocks of 10 letters and/or numbers that identify items. You can find the ASIN on the item’s product information page at Amazon.com. For books, the ASIN is the same as the ISBN, but for all other products a new ASIN is created when the item is uploaded to Amazon’s catalog. You will find an item’s ASIN on the product detail page alongside further details relating to the item, which may include information such as size, number of pages (if it’s a book) or number of discs (if it’s a CD). 

It is important to note that each ASIN depends on its marketplace, so an ASIN for Amazon U.S. may differ from Amazon Germany. So if you are currently selling on Amazon U.S. and you’re interested in expanding to another Amazon Marketplace, like Amazon France or Germany, you will likely need a different ASIN for that country. In addition to ASIN product identifiers, it helps to have the products other identifiers, like EAN or UPC. 

Each variation of a single product (e.g. color variation, size variations, etc) has a different ASIN. If the products you want to list are unique, you will need to provide a UPC or EAN, and Amazon will create a new ASIN for that product. If competitors have already recorded the product in question on Amazon, you can find the ASIN through the UPC or EAN. If you want to sell the same product, you can use the same ASIN. It is located under the Product Details section when you scroll down.

SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)

An SKU is assigned by the seller so they may track their inventory. When on Amazon, the SKU is used to identify items and keep track of where they are. This is done to avoid confusion and mishaps with items when tracking products within the warehouse and outside of it.

Amazon will create an SKU for you if you don’t have one. But, this can create problems and confusion. If Amazon creates an SKU, it is working for its internal purposes and theirs alone. It can create problems for you looking to identify the product and manage your own stock. Amazon SKU codes can reach up to 40 characters. It is a vital part of setting up an inventory management software. SKU generator online can be used to generate SKUs that can help you out in creating a unique code assigned to your product. It would be of great help to create SKUs that work and are convenient for you.

You can also create your own SKU number. You can use a combination of numbers and letters in your Amazon SKUs to convey details such as:

• Manufacturer
• Country of origin
• Condition
• Price
• Color

This will then be an SKU number that is not only easier to keep track of but gives you and your staff a lot of information about the products at just a glance.