To understand the importance of product serial numbers, let's head over to the other side of the world to keep up with the latest engaging advertising developments. In one of the most innovative brand collaborations, Oreo created an inspiring, interactive promotional campaign to reinforce the brand image of the beloved cookie paired with the idea of "dunking" it in milk. Consumers were invited to scan the serial number  Barcodes on milk cartons on store shelves and enjoy the creative video that appeared upon scanning the barcodes, following purposeful partnerships with several leading milk companies in the region.

The question now is: what is a product serial number?

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Discover the Product Serial Number

A product serial number is the product code used in e-commerce, consisting of a combination of letters or numbers for a product or a series of product descriptions. Thus, a product serial number serves as a unique identity for each item—much like the personal national ID you carry with you everywhere. It is used to determine the country of origin, manufacturing date, warranty period, and more. Sometimes it incorporates product specifications, such as colour or storage capacity in electronic devices. It is vital for efficient inventory management and quality control when a manufacturing defect is discovered in a specific product batch, allowing the manufacturer to inspect the production line and the exact time the defective product was rolled out with absolute ease.

Types of Product Serial Numbers

There are several forms of product serial numbers, including:

• The International Article Number or Global Trade Item Number; the barcode is also sometimes referred to as GTIN or GTIN-13.

• ISBN | Dedicated to books.

• Serial Number | Often abbreviated as S/N, this number is a unique hardware identification number chosen by the company and assigned to every single device produced. The number is used to match the product to its customer so that the company maintains an ownership record. This number is used exclusively by the original producer of the product. 

• Model Number | This number differentiates between optional models within the company's range of devices. Devices or appliances can share the same model number, indicating that they are of the same type and specifications.

• IMEI Number | Stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity and is used to distinguish mobile phones across all carriers worldwide. The number can be used to identify and track a device that may have been stolen or compromised.

• SKU Code "Stock Keeping Unit" | A number (usually consisting of eight alphanumeric characters) assigned by retailers to products to track inventory levels internally. For instance, if a product comes in different colours and sizes, each variation has a unique SKU.

What Does a Product Serial Number Represent?

• The GTIN product serial number consists of 13 digits.

• The first 12 digits are unique numbers specific to your brand that you assign to your products. They include (the "Country Code", a unique "Company Prefix", and a product "Serial Number" determined by the contracted category) using digits from 1 to 9.  These numbers are followed by a final digit, which is the "Check Digit", calculated using a special formula used in barcode generation to ensure that the numbers are configured correctly.

Is the Order Number in Online Stores Considered a Serial Number?

An order number is not considered a product serial number; rather, it is a number dedicated to tracking the status of an order in your store, and it includes the following:

First | Merchant Information 

• Order Summary

• Customer Notes

• Customer Details

• Shipping Details

• Payment Details

You can also explore everything related to shipping solutions for online stores.

Second | Customer Information

Sent via SMS and email regarding the order status, including:

• Pending Payment

• Processing

• Out for Delivery

• Completed; including shipping details and the tracking link

• Delivered

And here you will find everything related to the exchange and return policy.