Where Is EAN-13 Used: Locations and Touchpoints in the Supply Chain

Where do you encounter EAN-13 codes?

EAN-13 barcodes appear in many physical and digital places throughout the supply chain — from packaging and store shelves to warehouse racks, online product pages, and shipping documentation. They act as identifiers wherever products need to be recognized, processed, or tracked.

Common physical locations

• Product packaging: The most common place for an EAN-13 barcode is on the product’s retail packaging—back panels of boxes, bottles, blister packs, or labels. Packaging barcodes identify the consumer-ready unit for sale.
• Retail shelves and shelf labels: EAN-13 numbers are often used in conjunction with shelf edge labels and price tags so staff and customers can perform price checks or inventory audits.
• Receiving documents and packing lists: EAN-13s are printed on delivery notes and packing slips to speed verification during goods receipt.
• Pallet and case labels: While pallets and cases commonly use ITF-14 or SSCC for logistics units, EAN-13 is often printed on inner case labels when case-level identification matches the retail unit.
• Handheld scanners and POS terminals: Scanners at checkout and in warehouses read EAN-13 symbols directly off packaging or labels.

Supply chain and operational touchpoints

• Manufacturing lines: EAN-13 is printed or applied as barcode labels on finished goods produced on manufacturing lines so units are ready for retail and distribution.
• Warehouses and distribution centers: Use EAN-13 for put-away, picking, cycle counting, and replenishment tasks when the retail unit is the stock-managed piece.
• Retail stores: From the checkout lane to backroom inventory, EAN-13 is the primary identifier for scanning in many retail POS systems.
• E-commerce fulfillment centers: EAN-13 ensures correct item selection and packing for online orders; marketplaces often require GTINs for product listings.
• Returns processing: Returns teams scan the EAN-13 to validate the product returned and match it to the original sales record.

Digital locations

• Product data files and ERP systems: EAN-13 serves as a primary key field in product master data and inventory records.
• E-commerce product listings: Marketplaces and retailers include GTIN/EAN-13 fields on product pages; these enable search, product matching, and analytics.
• Supply chain integration and EDI: Electronic data interchange and catalog feeds often include EAN-13 codes so trading partners reference the exact same item.

Geographic and industry usage

EAN-13 is an international standard under GS1; it is widely used across Europe, Asia, Africa, and many parts of the Americas. In the United States and Canada, UPC-A (12-digit) was historically dominant, but many systems treat UPC-A and EAN-13 interchangeably (UPC-A can be represented as a 13-digit GTIN with a leading zero). Industries that commonly use EAN-13 include grocery, consumer packaged goods (CPG), health and beauty, electronics, and many retail categories.

Where not to use EAN-13

• Very small items where a printed EAN-13 won’t fit—use EAN-8 or alternative identification methods.
• Logistics-only units like pallets—use SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) or ITF-14 for case/pallet labeling as appropriate.
• Internal-only SKUs when global trade identification is unnecessary—internal SKUs can be used internally, but mixing internal IDs with EANs without mapping can cause confusion.

Practical placement guidance

• Place the barcode on a flat surface when possible, away from seams and edges.
• Leave the recommended quiet zone (blank margin) around the barcode to ensure reliable scanning.
• Use high contrast between bars and background; avoid printing barcodes over complex graphics or transparent film without an opaque white backing.

Example scenarios

• A supermarket receives a delivery: warehouse staff scan the EAN-13 on each case and retail unit to reconcile quantities and update the inventory system.
• An online seller lists a new product: they enter the product’s GTIN-13 into the marketplace listing so the marketplace can group identical items and manage search results.
• A customer scans a product with a mobile app: the app uses the EAN-13 to pull up product info, price comparisons, and reviews.

In summary, EAN-13 is used wherever a retail product needs a unique, machine-readable identifier—on packaging, in stores, throughout warehouses, in digital catalogs, and across trading partner systems. Knowing where to place and use EAN-13 improves scanning reliability, inventory accuracy, and the overall flow of goods from producer to consumer.