Product Numbers on Amazon: An Overview
To correctly create and uniquely identify products on Amazon, various product identifiers are used. These numbers are of great importance for the identification and management of products on the marketplace. There are different types of product numbers that can vary depending on the type of product and the region. The most important product identifiers on Amazon are explained below.
GTIN and EAN: The Basis of Product Identification
The Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) and the European Article Number (EAN) are the central identification numbers used for products on Amazon. Although the term EAN is now outdated, it is still frequently used in the Amazon world. The GTIN is a 13-digit number, where the first nine digits represent the Global Location Number (GLN). An example of such a number could include the country prefix "400 to 440" for Germany or "900 to 919" for Austria, followed by a check digit.
EAN numbers are assigned by GS1, an international organization, and are the only source that Amazon officially accepts. GS1 offers various packages with which companies can license different quantities of numbers. Licensing is subject to a fee and the fees vary depending on scope and revenue.
An alternative code to EAN is the ISBN, which is mainly used for books. There is also the older Universal Product Code (UPC), which is widely used in North America. The UPC consists of 12 digits and can also be used as EAN by prepending a 0.
ASIN: Amazon's Own Product Identification Number
The Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) is a unique ten-digit number that Amazon assigns to each product. This number is assigned for each individual product on Amazon, and there are no duplicates within a marketplace. For products that are offered in variants, a Parent-ASIN is created that summarizes the variants. Each variant of a product then receives its own Child-ASIN.
A practical example: A pillow in different sizes or colors has a Parent-ASIN under which all variants of the product are listed. If, for example, the product is offered in four variants (e.g., in different sizes), each of these variants receives its own Child-ASIN.
SKU: The Merchant-Specific Product Number
The Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) is a product number assigned by merchants themselves, which must be unique within a seller account. SKUs enable merchants to manage their inventory and organize their products efficiently. An SKU can, for example, contain information about the brand, product, variant, and shipping method (FBA or self-shipping).
Merchants can freely define their SKUs, and a common practice is to design them so that they are easy to understand. An example of an SKU could be: Lavalis_FS_15CM_FBA, where "Lavalis" describes the brand, "FS" the product, "15CM" the size, and "FBA" the shipping method. An SKU can also be assigned to multiple variants of a Child-ASIN, for example, when the same product is offered both through the FBA service and in self-shipping.
FNSKU: Labeling for Products in Amazon Warehouse
The FNSKU (Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit) is a special identifier assigned by Amazon for products that are stored in an Amazon distribution center and shipped from there. This number differs from the SKU and is required to uniquely identify and correctly assign goods sold through the FBA service.
Conclusion: The Importance of Product Identifiers
The correct use of GTIN, ASIN, SKU, and FNSKU is crucial to ensure that products are correctly listed and efficiently managed on Amazon. Each of these identification numbers has its specific function, whether for product identification, inventory management, or differentiation of variants within a product family. Merchants should ensure that they use the correct numbers for their products to avoid potential problems with product creation and management.
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