In retail, a barcode is not just a mark on the product. It is an opening for the products to penetrate different markets with maximum efficiency. Particularly, when starting one’s new products in India, barcode registration is an important process for businesses as it aids in effective management of stock, quick movement of products, and enhancing the organization’s credibility. In this paper, we will exhaustively cover the vital aspects of the process of registering barcodes in India, including the advantages of hiring a tax consultant in Chennai to help facilitate this process.

Benefits of Barcode Registration in India

A barcode is series of verticals black and white lines that contain the information of the products in a form which can be read by machines in a matter of seconds. Thus barcodes are pivotal for inventory control, keeping product in motion, and performing business transactions in retail shelf products.

Why barcodes are important for businesses:

Management of inventory: Barcodes reduce the трудоемкость of stock balance control, allowing to well keep track of the amount of product not running out.
Faster service: The use of scannable bar codes at the point of sale enables fast and accurate processing of payments enhancing the customers experience at the check out.
Wider audience: Most of the retail stores both on the internet and outside of it often demand barcodes on all products in order to sell them in the retail.
Maintaining prestige: The product with the registered code looks professional, thus increasing the chances of selling it.
More chances of selling the product. The retail chains with e-commerce businesses will not accept products for sale without barcodes.

Obtaining a Barcode in India


In India, the tendering of barcodes is the responsibility of GS1 India, which is a local branch of the global GS1 organization. The registration itself might look cumbersome, but a tax consultant in Chennai will take you through the process step by step. In order, here is what you need to go through:

Assess The Need For Using Barcodes:

Which Barcode Types And How Many Barcodes Shall A Person Order? This will be determined by the range of products within one’s packaging, and the likelihood of such packaging increasing in the future. For instance, a separate barcode is assigned for each product variant or size.

Apply To GS1 India:

Browse through GS1 India Website and complete the application form online.
Attach supporting documents (more on this below).
Pay for the appropriate fees depending on which barcodes are required and how long you are subscribing (1,2,3, 5 or 10years).


Get The Barcode Numbers:

When your application is successfully submitted and the review process completed, GS1 India issues barcode numbers along with a unique company prefix.

Generate And print The Barcode:

Following the acquisition of barcode numbers, the actual barcode images may be created utilizing barcode software. These barcode images are then affixed to product containers or labels.

Documents Required for Barcode Registration


For today’s business scenario, barcodes are essential for practicing efficiently in any sector. While certain industry sectors have provisions for free barcodes, the retail sector mostly makes use of purchased barcodes. In India the following are the requirements and application procedures for obtaining the barcode registration.

Proof of Business: Documents like a discharge certificate, shop registration or GST registration. PAN Card of the Company: A PAN card of the company does need to be produced. Proof of Identity and address of the Authorized Signatory: The signatory authorized for registration purposes on behalf of the business.

Plant Catalog: This is optional but helpful to showcase the products which require bar codes.
There are many firms who give these services in chennai and working with one of them will help you complete the application properly and on time as well as cut the chances of the application being returned due to some information missing or being wrong.

Costs Involved In Barcode Registration.


Barcode registration cost pattern in India is based on some considerations such as type of barcode, number of barcodes among others and thus subscription period.

Annual Membership Fee: This is dependent on the number of bar codes required. For example smaller business may require less bar codes and thus pay less amount.


Costs of Renewal: Renewal barcode registration is mandatory and hence the costs after the due date depend on the time subscription taken.

Consultation Fees: In Chennai, availing a taxation consultant’s services can invite extra cost which is worth considering as the time taken to process the application considerably reduces and errors are likely to be less.

Types of Barcodes in India

Barcodes in India are relatively few, but can be narrowed down to two further variations based on the industry and the function.

EAN-13 Barcode: These barcodes are most commonly used in the retail industry and comprise 13 numeric digits ready for scanning on a POS with global applicability.

UPC Barcode: Raw materials and consumables packaged and sold within the geographic borders of the US and Canada will commonly find this 12 digit barcode used in North America.

It is all the more important to choose the appropriate barcode classification; especially if you intend to ship those goods beyond your borders. A tax advisor in Chennai well versed with international markets will assist you in such cases.

Advantages of Barcode Registration for Indian Businesses


Barcode registration is a potentially transformational business process, especially for expansionist businesses. Here are some of the reasons:

  1. Facilitates Easy Inventory and Supply Chain Management: it becomes easy to keep everything in constant check, hence enabling one to control stocking levels effectively.
  2. Minimizes Human Error: Data input done manually is often subject to failure however barcodes prevent this from occurring, reducing wastage.
  3. Improves Customer Experience: Long queues at the payment points discourage customers and when there is an efficient system, it increases the customers’ interaction with the brand.
  4. Elevates Brand Prestige: Having a product without a barcode looks cheap and untrustworthy, thereby decreasing the confidence placed by the consumers on the brand.
  5. Supports Sales Through Conventional and Virtual Retail Channels: There are e-commerce systems or large retailers requiring bar coded products, thereby expanding the market for the business.

Responsibilities of a Tax Consultant: Barcode Registration


The enumeration of barcodes in companies mostly prepares and deals with a lot of paper work, pays a fee and meets the compliance requirements set by different authorities which all usually are very complex tasks to many. A proficient tax expert located in Chennai can help in many different ways:

Assistance in Preparing the Required Papers: Tax consultant makes sure that no stone is left unturned in the availability of all the necessary documents hence low chances of refusal of the application.
Registration and Renewal Fee Estimation and Advise: They impart help in giving approximations and in registering or renewing a budget similar to the budget making process.
Regulatory Risks: It is important to keep in mind registration of the product as well as its compliance requirements. A tax consultant will cover this aspect as well.
Wastage Avoidance: In case you wish to increase the scope of production for the existing range of products, it would be prudent to consult a tax advisor on how many more barcodes will be required to avoid the inconvenience of re-registration.


Renewal and Maintenance of Barcode Registration


Barcode registration is not a one off exercise. It carries with it, a requirement for renewals depending on the subscription you go for:

Renewal Frequency: There are options to choose renewal periods from one to 10 years. Long-term arrangements tend to offer more savings in prices.
Modification of Product Details Techniques: When the product undergoes any alteration (for example change in packaging or name), it is important to change the data contained in the barcode registry to prevent any infringement or law violation.
Consultant Help for Renewals: The registration can be enhanced through a tax consultant when it is time for renewal, in addition he will assist foresee on how the product lines will be increasing in the near future.

A Note on Registration of Barcodes on Exported Products.
Indian businesses aspiring to enter the global market must have a barcode that is accepted internationally. Products carrying GS1 barcodes can be scanned, recognized and sold anywhere in the globe without restrictions. A tax advisor in Chennai savvy with international trade is an asset in such cases as they will as well help you navigate the complexities in specific export requirements and procedures including that of documents you may have to prepare.

Conclusion

Efficiently Manage Your Barcode Registration with Assistance of a Tax Consultant in Chennai. For Indian companies looking to implement product management systems, create efficiently functioning supply chains and penetrate wider markets, barcode registration is the key. Nonetheless, it is a long process whereby one has to start from deciding on the appropriate barcode type, submit the right papers and figure out the prices.

It alway’s advisale to hire a tax consultant for those who want to register barcodes as it simplifies the tedious exercise. They will walk you through the whole process, help reduce expenses and costs relate to this process, not forgetting that they will make sure that every applicable rule is followed. This way, you will be transformed, and your brand will gain more respect in the market, alongside your products venturing into new retail markets.