What Is a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU)?

A stock-keeping unit (SKU) is a sticker attached to a product that retailers use to keep track of their inventory. The sticker contains a unique series of digits and ൲a scannable bar code that records the information when the item is sold.

The digits identify the product, its price, its manufacturer, and the point of sale. SKUs may also be applied to intangible but billable products such as units of labor in an auto body shop or 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:warranties.

Tracking Inventory

SKUs are used by stores, catalogs, e-commerce vendors, service providers, warehouses, and product fulfillment centers to 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:track inventory levels.

When a customer buys an item at the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:point-of-sale (POS), the SKU is scanned and the POS system automatically removes the item from the inventoꦇry while recording other data such 𝓡as the sale price.

Scannable SKUs and 🍎a POS system make it easy🐈 for managers to determine which products need to be restocked.

Vendor Benefits

• Track Inventory: SKUs allow vendors to see what they have in stock, track inventory movement, and provide information on reorder points.
• Prepare for Sales or Seasons: SKU data can help vendors decide what to reorder to prepare for holiday seasons or sales.
• In Transit Data: SKUs carry data that allow vendors to see where an item is in the shipment process.
  

SKUs vs. UPCs

Because e🐼ach company creates its own SKUs to track inventory, the SKUs for identical products vary among businesses.

This can make it more difficult for a consumer to compare prices among retailers. For example, if a company provides the SKU to advertise a certain discounted refrigerator, shoppers cannot use it to check the prices at the store's competitors.

澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Universal product codes (UPCs) are identical regardless of which business sells t꧋he items, so they can be used for comparison purposes. The UPC label includes a barcode and a 12-digit number that identifies the product.

The Bottom Line

Businesses need to track inventory to know how much they're selling, when they need to restock, and how fast products are selling. Using an SKU simplifies the inventory process, allowing some automation of inventory management.