The NetSuite Bar Coding and Item Labels Feature

The NetSuite Bar Coding and Item Labels feature allows users to generate, print, and scan bar coded item labels directly from NetSuite. Let’s take a look at how you would set up and use this NetSuite feature.

In order to use the Bar Coding and Item Labels feature, you will need to first enable it. You can find this feature on the Items section of the Items & Inventory tab in Enable Features. (Note that NetSuite uses the term “bar code” rather than “barcode.”) When this feature has been enabled, NetSuite will automatically generate bar codes for all your item records based on either the item name/number or the item Stock Keeping Unit (SKU). In addition, NetSuite generates unique bar codes that represent each of your transactions.

Is this NetSuite feature compatible with your bar code scanning tech? It depends. According to the NetSuite help docs, this feature works with any scanners that are functional for keyboard input. When you scan a NetSuite-generated bar code with one of these devices, it will populate with a string of text as if you had typed in the code.

The NetSuite Bar Coding and Item Labels feature supports three common types of bar code formats: UPC, EAN, and Code 128. You are not limited to using only one of these types of bar codes across all your items, though you will likely use a standard format for consistency. Code 128 is NetSuite’s default format, so if you leave the UPC Code field blank on an item record, NetSuite will automatically generate a Code 128 bar code format.

How do people use the NetSuite Bar Coding and Item Labels feature? The primary use-case is to print off item labels that contain both the item’s bar code and price. These labels can be added to items for use in stores and warehouses, as needed. A related use-case occurs when items are purchased or sold. The affixed item bar codes can be scanned to either receive an item on a purchase order or to fulfill an item on a sales order. Transaction bar codes, on the other hand, are helpful because they allow you to receive or fulfill all items on a purchase or sales order, rather than requiring you to scan the codes of individual items.

Printed labels can contain the item number/SKU, the item price, and the bar code. You can also print labels for serialized items. You will need to install Adobe Reader for printing labels. To print labels for transactions, use the Print button on the transaction. Alternatively, you can navigate to Transactions > Management > Print Checks and Forms > Item Labels > Item Labels. To print labels from individual items, open the item record and select the Print Label button.

Once you have a bar code label printed and affixed to an item or a group of items (for a multi-item transaction), what does scanning look like? Remember that scanning a bar code will populate an item text field in NetSuite as if you had typed out that item’s information. While on a transaction in Edit mode, place your cursor in either the Item field or the Select Item Number field (the exact name will vary based on the transaction type). Then, use your bar code scanner to scan the printed label and auto-fill the NetSuite field with the item information. When adding multiple items to a single transaction, you will also need to hit Enter after scanning each item.

If you’re looking for more functionality than the native NetSuite Bar Coding and Item Labels feature can provide, the RF-SMART SuiteApp is likely the next step for you. Because this is a SuiteApp, it is fully integrated into NetSuite. You can learn more about this SuiteApp and request a demo here.

The NetSuite Bar Coding and Item Labels feature allows you to generate bar code labels for your items and use those bar codes on transactions directly in NetSuite. If this is a feature you would like to begin using in your account or if you have any other NetSuite needs, SuiteRep would love to come on board and help you start seeing better business results. Contact us to get the conversation started!