Application and technical analysis of barcodes in cross-border e-commerce logistics
Bar code is a sequence composed of black and white stripes of different thicknesses. It uses coding rules to represent text, numbers and symbol information. It can be recognized by photoelectric scanning equipment and facilitates data input into computer systems. Its standardization history began in the 1940s. After further development, by the 1970s, various commodity barcode systems such as UPC barcodes were officially established and widely used in the market.
Basic composition and encoding rules of barcodes
The structure of a barcode generally includes components such as a quiet space, a start character, a data character, a check character, and a terminator. Taking the EAN-13 barcode as an example, it often consists of 13 digits, and these numbers have their own specific meanings. The main encoding methods used in barcodes are module combination method and width adjustment method, which represent binary data through the combination of different modules. For example, the module combination method combines bars and spaces to form standard modules, and the width adjustment method uses different widths to represent different binary states.
Barcode technology features
Barcode technology has many distinctive features:
- Simplicity: Easy to create and scan.
- Efficiency: The information entry speed through barcode scanning is far faster than the traditional keyboard input speed, up to 2,000 characters per minute.
- Large amount of information: A large amount of information can be obtained in one scan to maximize the use of space.
- High reliability: Barcodes have extremely low error rates, typically only one part per million.
- Flexibility: It can be used independently or linked with other devices to achieve automatic identification.
- Cost-effectiveness: Barcode technology equipment has a simple structure, low cost, and is easy to promote.
Classification of barcodes and their applications
Barcodes are divided into multiple types, including but not limited to UPC codes, EAN codes, interleaved 25 codes, 39 codes, etc. Each barcode shows different characteristics according to its application scenario. For example, the UPC code is dedicated to commodities, and the 39 code is widely used in industry and library management.
In cross-border e-commerce logistics, barcodes are widely used, especially in the conversion of registration barcodes and order numbers. The registration barcode, as a tracking mark for postal parcels, has protective measures, such as covering it with transparent tape to protect it from rain. The original order number of the express delivery is used as the reference number of the express delivery and cannot be used directly for inquiries, but it plays an important role in the logistics process.
Through barcode technology, the efficiency of cross-border e-commerce logistics management and tracking has been significantly improved, providing an important guarantee for global commodity circulation. The flexibility and efficiency of this technology make it indispensable in modern logistics.