Amazon ASIN and SKU – What’s the Difference

The interest in selling on Amazon is an exciting idea, but encountering unfamiliar jargon or terms may be intimidating. This article will help you familiarize yourself with the website’s unfamiliar words and put you on your way to starting a business with Amazon.

Product identifiers are needed when you are to pursue selling on marketplaces like Amazon. It will help your business as it improves traffic to your listings. And it helps improve the system of knowing what kind of goods is present and their availability. It also entails personalization and marketing strategy. Read on to arm yourself with information that will help you on your journey.

Adding product identifiers and listing the item seems a straightforward process. However, it still may cause some difficulties for novice sellers. Read our Amazon listing guide to get basic knowledge on how to list on the platform.

Nuances of Running a Business on Amazon

Many people wonder why the AMZ marketplace is so popular among third-party merchants. One of the most obvious reasons is the platform’s FBA program. It allows users to fulfil orders from their warehouses and AMZ warehouses. In the second option, the marketplace does all the work that helps merchants to concentrate on business development instead of dealing with administrative tasks.

The scheme of delivering goods on Amazon FBA warehouses is very simple. First, the POS system creates an FNSKU number for each merchant. Then, a physical barcode must be placed on the merchant’s items before shipping them to AMZ so that the system can correctly identify them. The FNSKU is based on the unique item’s SKU (stock keeping unit). The properties are similar to the universal product code (UPC) but are used exclusively within the Amazon marketplace.

Another option for identifying goods on the platform is GTIN (global trade item number). This code is created based on international GS1 codes. With its help, merchants can list their goods worldwide on the international Amazon markets. It’s also a physical label that is placed directly on the item.

Such an inventory management system helps stores to process orders faster and enhance the service of the whole trading platform. Consequently, more and more clients choose Amazon to buy goods.

Why Do Amazon Merchants Need Product Identifiers?

Product identifiers are essential on the Amazon platform. In addition to ASINs and UPCs, such identifiers include GTINs (Global Trade Item Numbers) and EANs (European Article Numbers). They are used to track items, customers, and orders. So, why do merchants need AMZ product label identifiers?

We have compiled a few main reasons:

• To create an AMZ product listing, merchants must provide an ASIN. However, they also need to create a UPC for their items to receive product tracking and sales information from the marketplace.
• Without a UPC, AMZ cannot associate your item with any sales statistics, and you will be unable to check how well your goods perform on the platform.
• Product label identifiers are used to monitor inventory and sales data for goods. Manufacturers and retailers use this information to make informed business decisions about items.
• Product label identifiers are also used to identify goods in the supply chain. It helps assure that items are correctly routed and monitored as they move through the supply chain.

To cut a long story short, identifiers are vital for online retailers needing data to make informed business decisions. Without AMZ ASIN tracking information, it is much more difficult to monitor your goods in multiple marketplaces, spot and resolve inventory discrepancies, and make data-driven decisions about what items to sell.

Amazon ASIN

So, what is ASIN? You may wander around the website and see the ASIN meaning. Perhaps, this particular requirement is asked of you. No matter when you first hear about it, you will encounter an ASIN number.

What is an ASIN, and what is an ASIN number? An ASIN number comprises ten letters and numbers assigned by the website and its partners for product identification on the database.

You might also wonder, “What does ASIN stand for?” or “What does ASIN mean?” ASIN stands for Amazon Standard Identification Number. All products on Amazon have a unique ASIN. In other words, no two products have the same Amazon Standard Identification Numbers. This identifier is a big help to customers who want to find a particular item. It’s also used for indexing catalogue pages. It helps narrow the search for its customers in finding particular products to their liking or needs. It also helps in tracking the product during inventory, whether it’s about its location within the warehouse itself or to the places it’s been.

The easiest and fastest way to find the Amazon ASIN number of a product is in the address bar of the product you plan to sell. It will be located after the product’s name and “dp”. You can also locate the ASINs in the product details towards the bottom of the page. You can also use an ASIN lookup tool like Synccentric to import the identifiers of your goods and then get the ASINs for you, making the job easier. Usually, ASIN lookup tools may cost money depending on the required workload.

You may also see if the product you plan to sell needs an ASIN number on Amazon. It indicates that the product is not yet available on the Amazon website. You can use this to your advantage. First, you can research whether or not your product is unique. Then, you can size up your competition.

The need to create a new ASIN code indicates that you are the only seller that sells your item on the website. Therefore, it is essential to be able to create, maximize, and use the right ASIN code for your products. Otherwise, it may lead to the Amazon website being unable to find your products and not being able to display them to potential buyers.

Accompanying the creation of a new ASIN, you must familiarize yourself with your product’s GTINs or Global Trade Item Numbers. Remember that the Amazon website always uses these essential identifiers for easy accessibility for the company and its shoppers.

GTIN

Another identifier that you will encounter is GTIN. GTIN means Global Trade Item Numbers. GTIN comprises 12 digits in the United States but around 13 digits outside the North American region. It can also be composed of 8 digits for really small products. It is needed to be submitted to Amazon as it is a standard product identifier.

As a seller, you are required to use this code to match universal industry standards. It is located on the packaging of the item or the item itself. In case the GTIN cannot be located, contacting the supplier or manufacturer of the product should be apt. Manufacturers should check out the GS1 standards website for guidelines regarding GTIN. Not all products are accompanied by the GTIN, made-to-order or handmade products are some exceptions.

All products sold on Amazon should have a unique trade item code. Certain cases of products packaged in many quantities but quantified as a single product should both possess different GTIN. It also applies to products that combine with another distinct product. For other guidelines, visit Amazon’s bundle guidelines for more information.

Amazon accepts all types of GS1 GTINs, so it would be best to adhere to the organization’s websites for smoother process transactions starting. You should also pay the GS1 website to see exempted products and considered exceptions. The barcodes, whether EAN, UPC, or GS1 GTINs, are used worldwide as they are already used as a standard. The organization will provide you with a one-of-a-kind company prefix that generates your GTINs. The prefix is annually licensed to you and comes with a fee that has to be paid as well.

Identifying your products always comes with the renewal of your license. You will manage the data of your products with your company prefix. Applying for the company prefix is a fast process that takes only minutes on GS1’s website. Once you have received it, accompanying your company prefix is the 100,000 GTINS. Assigning codes will become a breeze. Moreover, you can sign up for many products. The GS1 organization’s website contains all the needed information for your preparations for starting a business venture with Amazon.

There are different types of GTIN, depending on your product type; some of the common types of GTIN are EAN or European Article Number, ISBN or International Standard Book Number, and UPC or Universal Product Code.

• EAN or the European Article Number is a standard for barcodes, composed of 12-13 digits as a product identity code. This code identifies the product, its attributes, and its manufacturer. It is usually located just below the barcode of the product. It is also usually 13 digits for products transacted outside North America and 12 digits for products within a specific region.
• ISBN, also known as International Standard Book Number, is a universal product code for books on the market. They compose 10 or 13 digits, but books assigned with ISBN after January 1, 2007, have 13 digits. It is usually located above the barcode and/or on the back of the book. Book publishers should check out the U.S. ISBN Agency website for ISBN guidelines.
• UPC or Universal Product Code is a 12-digit product code, similar to EANs, that identifies retail products in the United States and other North American countries. The difference between UPC and EAN is that UPC is widely used in North America with 12 digits. On the other hand, the EAN comprises 13 digits, primarily used by the rest of the countries outside of the North American region. Primarily, both do the same job, so having either is sufficient. 

Amazon SKU

You can come across another identifier on the Amazon website– the SKU code. You ask yourself the questions, “What is an SKU number?” and “What is an SKU?” The SKU was initially for managing SKU inventory to track the whereabouts of individual items in a warehouse and the places it travels. It can also track when it leaves the premises of the warehouse.

On Amazon, the SKU is used to identify items and track where they are. It is done to avoid confusion and mishaps with items when tracking products within the warehouse and outside of it.

You will also ask yourself, “What does SKU mean?” or “What does SKU stand for?” SKUs means Stock Keeping Units.

Amazon SKU codes can reach up to 40 characters. A stock-keeping unit is vital to set up inventory management software. You can use an SKU generator online to generate SKUs that can help create a unique code assigned to your product. It would be a great help to create SKUs that work and are convenient for you.

One component or factor that can be used in generating SKUs for your product is the model numbers. SKUs help you run your business with many factors, such as using them as a marketing strategy. Moreover, you can personalize your products to what you and your business need. There are many features you may include in creating your SKU barcode:

• You can add the product’s identity–what it is, its attributes, descriptions, model numbers, etc.
• You can add your supplier or manufacturer. This feature will help you distinguish the manufacturer or supplier of your products. It is most useful when you get your products from various sources.
• You can add the date of the product. It will help you if your products come seasonally. 
• You can add the location to your warehouse or inventory for easy accessibility.
• You can add the condition of the product. Differentiate if the item is brand new or secondhand, or used.
• You can add the cost of the product. Here you may see how the demand for your item progresses, depending on your strategy regarding how you price your products.

Additionally, most Amazon sellers include MPN, which provides more accuracy in item listings and information about products, for example, technical specifics. Besides, it makes the goods comparatives more correct while eliminating any guesswork simultaneously. What does MPN mean? Read our blog post to learn more.

Buy Box

Buy Box is a unique system that identifies what to offer to a particular customer. Thus, the buying process is easy. You just click “Buy Now” or “Add to Cart.” One Amazon Standard Identification Number has one Buy Box.

As for the Stock Keeping Unit, it can compete for the Buy Box with other product offerings. Do you have more than one active SKU? That means that they will all compete for the Buy Box.

If you want to sell one of the assortment items of the product, then immediately after the price has been reduced by a little, you will see the Buy box.

What if the price is the same, but one Stock Keeping Unit is FBM, and the other is FBA? In this case, the FBA SKU wins.

Okay, what if there are two Amazon FBA SKUs at the same price? The offer wins, closer to the buyer (in the nearest warehouses in stock). Thus, the buyer will receive the order soon.

What happens if the SKU is inactive? If Amazon does not have information about the exact date of receipt of the product at the warehouse, then it is not in the Buy box rotation.

Sometimes there is no Buy Box at all. Sometimes it happens that the field is missing in new accounts. How to activate it? If you have the opportunity to contact specific managers, they will start it.

Reviews, Descriptions and Other Data

All this information is at the ASIN level. In other words, the number of SKUs does not affect the descriptions.

Removing a product from Seller Central will remove the SKU, not the ASIN. To suggest changes, you can change your listing details using Seller Central. The application of the changes depends on whether they have priority over other merchants. If the program did not make the changes automatically, contact support.

Amazon PPC (Pay-per-Click)

Since Amazon PPC is at the SKU level, you enter the SKU when you create your company. That is because the seller promotes the offer, not the listing. If the SKU loses the Buy Box, it is unusable for advertising. Consequently, buyers do not see offers, and you do not spend money on advertising.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the product SKU would greatly help you execute various jobs in your business. It can help oversee the demands of particular products, the organization within your inventory, already having an existing system of SKU naming when you add an item and many more.

The ASIN, GTIN and SKU are significant innovations and easy accessibility in integrating various marketplaces, from retail stores to couriers. These identifiers are essential in paving the way for business in online marketplaces. For example, marketplaces like Amazon develop their database to handle information about an inventory of their items. It would ensure smooth handling and transactions. 

Hopefully, this article has given you enough information to start your venture with Amazon. Get a head start by using tools like SageMailer to gain better conversions and increase sales. Also, read our page on how to get more reviews on Amazon legally.

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