Some products sold in the market are sold by unit, while others are sold by weight. These two groups operate completely differently at the cash register and in inventory.
For unit-based products, the barcode is scanned and a quantity of one is deducted. For weighed products, however, the quantity changes with every sale; the scanned barcode carries the weight information.
In this article, we explained the weighted barcode structure, scale setup, and the impact of weighed products on the inventory side.
Table of Contents
What is a weighted barcode?
A weighted barcode is a special type of barcode that carries not only the product code but also quantity or price information.
It is generated instantly for the product weighed on the scale and a label is printed. When scanned at the cash register, both the product and the quantity are transferred to the system.
Thanks to this structure, the cashier does not need to enter the quantity manually; both speed and accuracy are ensured.
Which part of the barcode is the product code and which part is the quantity is defined by a format, and this format is set in the system.
We discussed the general logic of the barcode structure in the multi-barcode management article.
Flow from scale to cash register
The flow starts with the customer placing the product on the scale. The aisle attendant or the customer selects the product on the scale.
The scale measures the weight, multiplies it by the unit price, and prints the label. The weighted barcode is found on the label.
This barcode is scanned at the cash register; the product and quantity are automatically added as a line.
In setups with weighing at the checkout, the scale is directly connected to the register; the quantity is transferred to the register without label printing.
In both setups, stock decreases at the time of sale; register stock connection we discussed this link in the article.
Scale installation and product definitions
The product list loaded onto the scale must match the product cards in the system. When the two diverge, the wrong product is sold.
For this reason, it is preferred that the scale list is fed from the system; manual updates quickly produce inconsistencies.
The unit definition on the product card must be kilogram. When a product defined as pieces is weighed, the stock calculation gets disrupted.
Some products can be sold both by piece and by weight; in this case, two separate cards or unit conversion is used. Unit definitions refer to the article.
The scale keypad layout should also be planned according to frequently sold products; the cashier searching for products slows down the checkout line.
Impact on the stock side
Stock tracking for weighted products is more difficult than for piece-based products because input and output quantities are never whole numbers.
A product with fifty kilos entering the warehouse can be sold as forty-eight and a half kilos. The difference in between must be accounted for as waste.
For this reason, inventory counts for weighted products should be done more frequently. Weekly counts keep accumulated discrepancies small.
Counting is also done by weighing; counting by pieces is meaningless for this product group.
Partial count setup is particularly suitable for this group; warehouse counting we explained the method in the article.
Waste and spoilage management
Waste is inevitable in weighted products and is generally much higher compared to piece-based products.
Spoilage in fruits and vegetables, cutting loss in meat products, and slicing waste in delicatessen occur. These are normal cost items.
The important thing is not to estimate this waste, but to record it. When not recorded, waste and theft cannot be distinguished.
Categorical recording of waste causes shows which product suffered which loss and paves the way for mitigation work.
We detailed waste tracking in the waste and loss tracking article.
Price updates
Prices of weighed products change much more frequently than counted products. Fruit and vegetable prices can be updated weekly or even daily.
These updates must be reflected in both the system and the scale. When both sides show different prices, discrepancies arise at the checkout.
Feeding the scale from the system eliminates this risk; updates are made from a single point.
Printed labels, however, are not affected by updates; the amount on the label remains valid. Therefore, price changes are preferably made at the beginning of the day.
We discussed the bulk price update method in the price list management article.
Frequent problems
Wrong product selection. Similar products are confused on the scale; two products with different prices are printed with the same label.
Tare adjustment. Failing to deduct packaging weight means overcharging the customer and generates complaints.
Unreadable labels. Labels that get damp or wrinkled in the refrigerator become unreadable, requiring manual entry at the checkout.
Scale-system incompatibility. When the product list is not updated, new products cannot be weighed.
Most of these problems can be prevented with a regular control routine; weekly verification of the scale list is sufficient. Definitions are managed in the POS module.
Installation sequence
The correct sequence in a weighing setup prevents most of the inconsistencies that may arise later.
First, the units in the product cards are corrected. Products to be sold by the kilogram must not remain defined with piece units.
Next, the weighted barcode format is defined in the system; it is determined which digits represent the product and which represent the quantity.
In the third step, the scale product list is configured to be fed from the system.
In the fourth step, a few products are weighed and scanned at the register to verify the entire chain.
In the final step, tare settings are checked; incorrect tare is the most common cause of customer complaints.
Points to consider
Stock accuracy for weighed products deteriorates much faster than for counted products.
Therefore, a separate counting schedule must be established for this group and executed weekly.
Keeping records of waste with their reasons makes it possible to calculate the actual loss.
Manually updating the scale list is unsustainable in the long run; feeding from a single source is essential.
Making price changes at the beginning of the day reduces the discrepancy between printed labels and the system.
When these measures are applied together, the weighed product group is also managed predictably.
Frequently asked questions
Which scale models are supported?
It varies depending on the barcode format and connection method; get confirmation for your existing devices prior to installation.
Can the customer weigh items themselves?
Self-service scales can be used; the product selection screen must be intuitive.
Can promotions be defined for weighed products?
Yes, discounts based on kilogram can be defined; campaign management see the article.
Can weighted barcodes be scanned on mobile registers?
If the format is defined, they can be read; the weighing process is handled on the web side. Mobile POS you can check out the article.
Weighted products are both the most profitable and the hardest-to-track group in supermarket operations. The right setup ensures speed at the checkout and accuracy in stock.
Your first step should be to feed the scale list directly from the system. A manually updated list inevitably creates discrepancies.
Then, establish a weekly inventory count routine for this product group. Discrepancies accumulated in weighted products grow much faster than in unit-counted products.
By consulting with the EQLEM team you can plan your weighing and barcode setup.