Product Codes in Reviews Analysis: What, Why, Where, And How
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You may or may not know that product codes are a common way to trace and identify products. Even a simple Mandarin can have a product code! In this post, we are going to be discussing different types of product codes, what they are used for, and why they may be important. Let’s get started!
A product code is a unique identifier assigned to a specific product to distinguish it from other items. It serves as a key for inventory management, sales tracking, and supply chain operations. As mentioned previously, product codes are great for identification and traceability. This is because their letter or number combinations are made as unique as possible. Often, product models can look very similar in almost all aspects, apart from a few details that were changed, either due to regulations in a country or simply a product choice. Product codes ensure that you can find the exact product you are looking for with ease. This is also true across online e-commerce channels.
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Generally speaking, product codes are important for several reasons. They help in uniquely identifying a product, which is essential for inventory management, sales tracking, and quality control. Product codes, such as Universal Product Codes (UPC) or International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN), facilitate efficient checkout processes and provide critical information about the product, such as its manufacturer, price, and point of sale. Additionally, product codes support supply chain management by enabling accurate and streamlined distribution and logistics.
In particular, product codes play a vital role in analyzing customer reviews because they provide a direct link between the feedback and the specific products being reviewed. By associating customer reviews with specific product codes, businesses can gain insights into which products are receiving positive or negative feedback. This allows them to identify patterns, trends, and common issues related to particular products, which can then be used to make informed decisions about product improvements, marketing strategies, and customer satisfaction initiatives.
As product codes are an ideal identifier for product models, we at Wonderflow, for example, use these codes to index customer feedback in our data lake. This is to say, we can identify which exact product models the reviews are referring to and link them correspondingly, ultimately enhancing the accuracy of our consumer sentiment analysis.
Additionally, using product codes in review analysis enables businesses to track the performance of individual products over time, monitor the impact of product updates or changes, and compare the feedback for different product variations or models. This can be instrumental in understanding customer sentiment, identifying areas for product enhancement, and ultimately improving overall product quality and customer experience.
Now you know what product codes are used for and why it is essential to identify the right code. It is important to highlight that different types of product codes have different functions and meanings, depending on, for example, the e-commerce channel your business wants to optimize. Let’s identify and clarify some of the most important and relevant types of product codes.
The SKU or Stock Keeping Unit is a letter/number combination code that is mainly used to keep inventory checks. Not all companies call this code SKU, with its name often being called Product Model or Marketing Code. It is also key to note that, unlike the below-mentioned codes, this code is not universal and may thus vary for the same product. Interestingly enough, for this code, every product feature gets its own letter and number combination. SKUs are the primary code we use at Wonderflow to index reviews.
The UPC (Universal Product Code) is extensively used in North America and contains key information about the corresponding product, such as model, color, number of units, etc. It typically consists of a 12-digit unique number combination.
The European Article Number is a 13-digit number combination that looks similar to a UPC. However, this code is used extensively in the rest of the world, where the UPC is not used, especially in Europe.
The UN Standard Product and Service Code is a universal code consisting of an 8-digit number code, where two extra digits can optionally be added. This code is used to identify products in a standardized way, with a similar function to the above-mentioned codes. A difference, however, is that this code focuses on identifying products related to a certain group instead of a specific exact product. One can view it as an umbrella product code that encompasses multiple products according to their characteristics.
The ASIN code stands for Amazon Standard Identification Number. The code consists of a number and letter combination of 10 characters that is only used to identify a product on Amazon pages. This means that this code is not used on other e-commerce sites.
Product codes work by providing a unique identifier for each distinct product or item. These codes are typically alphanumeric and can come in various formats, such as Universal Product Codes (UPCs), International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs), or Stock Keeping Units (SKUs). When a product is manufactured or introduced into inventory, it is assigned a specific product code that distinguishes it from other items.
This code is then used throughout the product's lifecycle for tasks such as inventory management, sales tracking, and supply chain operations. In retail settings, product codes are scanned at the point of sale using barcode scanners, allowing for quick and accurate identification of products during checkout. In supply chain and distribution operations, product codes enable efficient tracking and management of inventory as it moves from production facilities to warehouses and ultimately to retailers or customers.
Overall, product codes facilitate the unique identification and tracking of products, helping businesses manage inventory, streamline operations, and provide accurate information about their products to customers and partners.
The location of a product code can vary depending on the e-commerce site you are viewing. To show you an example, let’s first take a look at Amazon. Sometimes, we manage to find the code in the title of the product page. You would easily notice it because it is usually a combination of letters and numbers, such as the one shown below, which is ECAM22.110.B
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However, often, the code is not found in the title, and we must therefore scroll a little until we get to the product information section, where we can find the product number (sometimes called item number, manufacturer number, or similar) and the ASIN code. Recall that the ASIN code can only be found on Amazon pages.
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Sometimes the code is not easily found, and you are going to have to do some more looking around to find it. Let’s take Walmart as an example. To find the code on this channel, we must scroll down to the specifications section. Here we see something called a manufacturer's part number; this is the code. Recall that the code can be presented in different types; it is therefore important for you to understand what these codes may look like.
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TIP: If unsure whether something is the product code, you can try copying and pasting the code into your search browser and find out whether your desired product is shown. Also, use the guidelines and descriptions discussed above to help you identify codes. You can use lengths as a guideline as well to differentiate between them.
Here are some other frequently asked questions (FAQs) by businesses on product codes.
A product code, a serial number, and a barcode serve different purposes, but they are related to the identification and tracking of products. A product code, such as a Universal Product Code (UPC) or an International Standard Book Number (ISBN), is a unique identifier for a product that provides information about the item, such as its manufacturer and item type.
A serial number, on the other hand, is a unique identifier assigned to a specific unit of a product. It distinguishes one individual item from another, providing traceability and allowing manufacturers to track production and distribution. A barcode is a representation of data in a visual, machine-readable form. Barcodes often contain product codes or serial numbers, which can be scanned and interpreted by barcode scanners, helping to streamline processes such as inventory management and point-of-sale transactions.
In summary, while they serve different functions, product codes, serial numbers, and barcodes are all integral to product identification and tracking.
A unique product code, often referred to as a Universal Product Code (UPC) or a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU), is a specific identifier that distinguishes a particular product from others. It serves as a unique key for inventory management, sales tracking, and distribution. This code is typically a combination of numbers and/or letters and is assigned to each distinct product to ensure that it can be easily identified and differentiated from similar items. Unique product codes are essential for a variety of business operations, including retail sales, supply chain management, and e-commerce, as they facilitate efficient tracking, organization, and analysis of products throughout their lifecycle.
The number of digits in a product code can vary depending on the type of code and the specific system being used. For instance, Universal Product Codes (UPCs) in the United States typically consist of 12 digits, while European Article Numbers (EANs) contain 13 digits. Additionally, International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs) usually have either 10 or 13 digits.
Other product codes, such as Stock Keeping Units (SKUs), may contain a combination of letters and numbers, with varying lengths depending on the specific retailer or organization using them.
In summary, the number of digits in a product code depends on the type of code and the standards or systems in place for its implementation within a particular industry or region.
