What does SKU mean in supply chain?

stock keeping unit
SKU stands for stock keeping unit. At the most basic level, it is a digital way to track a product. You convert data about the product into a collection of letters and numbers that can be manipulated by a computer. [Source] Don’t confuse an SKU for a universal product code (UPC).

What is an example of a SKU?

Name of manufacturer, color of the product variant, size So, for a blue Under Armour shoe in size 10, the SKU might be UDA-BL-10.

What is ecommerce SKU?

SKU (pronounced “skew”), short for stock keeping unit, is used by retailers to identify and track its inventory, or stock. A SKU is a unique code consisting of letters and numbers that identify characteristics about each product, such as manufacturer, brand, style, color, and size.

What is SKU FMCG?

What Is a Stock Keeping Unit? A stock-keeping unit (SKU) is a scannable bar code, most often seen printed on product labels in a retail store. The label allows vendors to automatically track the movement of inventory. The SKU is composed of an alphanumeric combination of eight-or-so characters.

How do you plan a SKU?

SKU Naming Best Practices

  1. #1: Ensure It’s Easy to Understand.
  2. #2: Arrange Words Based on Importance.
  3. #3: Avoid Using Letters That May Look Like Special Characters.
  4. #4: Avoid Starting SKU Names With Zero.
  5. #5: Don’t Use Manufacturer Numbers.
  6. #6: Keep SKU Names Simple.

Is barcode a SKU?

While stock keeping units or SKUs and barcodes are similar, they are not the same. A barcode is different from a SKU by the way it is assigned to a product—SKU numbers are unique to a business or seller, and barcodes should be assigned to all like products regardless of where they are sold.

What is the difference between SKU and barcode?

SKU numbers are unique to individual retailers, whereas UPC barcodes are used universally and remain constant for a product no matter which retailer is selling it. For this reason, a product will retain one UPC code even if it’s assigned different SKU numbers by different companies.

How do I create a small business SKU?

How to Set Up SKU Numbers in 5 Steps

  1. Step 1: Start SKU Numbers With a Top-level Identifier.
  2. Step 2: Use the Middle Numbers to Assign Unique Identifiers.
  3. Step 3: Finish SKU With a Sequential Number.
  4. Step 4: Add SKUs to Your POS or Inventory Management System.
  5. Step 5: Create SKU Barcodes Labels.