produktkod

Produktkod is a term used to describe a unique identifier assigned to a product to distinguish it from other products in catalogs, inventory systems, and point-of-sale transactions. In Swedish commerce, the concept covers both internally managed codes, such as a retailer’s stock-keeping unit (SKU), and externally standardized identifiers used across the supply chain.

External identifiers are often global trade item numbers (GTINs), formerly scanned as EANs or UPCs, which enable products to be uniquely identified worldwide. GTINs are issued by GS1, a nonprofit organization that coordinates barcode and identification standards. SKUs are retailer-specific alphanumeric codes that help manage stock and pricing within an organization and may not be globally unique.

GTINs are typically encoded in barcodes that appear on product packaging, enabling automated scanning and data capture in logistics and retail. Data associated with a produktkod—such as description, price, and supplier—is stored in product databases and linked to the code. The use of a product code supports inventory control, ordering, pricing, analytics, and e-commerce integration.

Because product codes underpin many business processes, careful governance is important. Organizations may obtain GTINs from GS1 and establish internal coding schemes that align with their systems. Changes to a product’s code require updates across catalogs, ERP, point-of-sale, and external listings. Differing national or retailer-specific requirements can influence how produktkoder are issued and used.

Related concepts include barcode, GTIN, GS1, SKU, UPC, and EAN.