Serialisation

What is Serialisation?

Serialisation involves the assignment of distinct and traceable serial numbers or codes to individual items or products. While applicable to various products, serialisation is particularly crucial for valuable items, where the misplacement of inventory could result in substantial losses. In this process, each product sharing the same SKU is endowed with a unique barcode.

Advantages

• Accurate Inventory Management: Serialization ensures precise tracking and control of inventory.
• Product Authentication and Brand Protection: Unique serial numbers enhance product authenticity and safeguard brand integrity.
• Enhanced Supply Chain Visibility: Serialization contributes to improved visibility in the supply chain, aiding logistics planning.
• Improved Recall Management: The traceability afforded by serialization facilitates more efficient recall management.

Disadvantages

• Increased Operational Complexity: Implementing serialization can introduce operational complexities and necessitate additional resources.
• Cost Implications: The process of serialization may entail increased costs related to technology, infrastructure, and maintenance.

Use-Cases

Though one can serialise any SKU they want to but this is not an ideal practise. Reason being, with serialisation enabled, other factors also come into play such as increased cost due to barcode prinitng, and increased manual labour. Therefore, generally, serialisation is enabled for high value items or the items that require special tracking.

For Example:

1. High-end electronics (e.g., smartphones, laptops)
2. Pharmaceuticals (prescription drugs)
3. Luxury goods (watches, designer accessories)
4. Automotive parts (critical components)