ECIA 2D BARCODE STANDARDIZED CERTIFICATION

How To Get Started

Please read the information below thoroughly before commencing Registration.


NEW USERS REGISTER HERE

OR

Previously tested Digi-key
suppliers register here

STEP 1: REGISTER YOUR COMPANY

Company Registration is necessary to coordinate your company’s 2D barcode certification needs with the specific requirements of your major distribution trading partners. During registration you will need to identify:


  • Distributors - Suppliers will be provided a list of participating distributors and denote which currently distributes their products. Distributors include; Allied Electronics, Arrow Electronics, Avnet, Digi-Key, Future Electronics, Mouser, Newark, Sager and TTI. Suppliers will also be required to provide respective vendor numbers for each trading partner. It is likely that a supplier may enter multiple vendor numbers for the same distributor.

    Note: Information provided will ONLY be shared with distributors selected.
  • Ship Locations - Since many suppliers ship product from multiple ship point locations, suppliers will enter all active shipping locations. Certification status will be identified to distributors by Ship Point.
  • Contacts - A primary contact will need to be designated for each ship location, if applicable.

Based on the distributors selected, a matrix of label formats required for certification will be displayed. Likewise, suppliers will also be presented with any distributor specific instructions and details.


STEP 2: SAMPLE SUBMISSION
Suppliers may provide samples in either DIGITAL OR PHYSICAL formats for testing. However, certification can only be done for PHYSICAL formats since dimension and ISO print quality assessments can only be obtained from an actual label/packing slip.
  • DIGITAL Submission. (optional) - Digital samples are evaluated solely for format and data encodation. Suppliers may elect to first provide DIGITAL samples prior to PHYSICAL sample submissions when first programming labels and formats. The option is commonly used by overseas suppliers. The cost for DIGITAL tests is $50 ECIA members and $75 for non-ECIA members.
  • PHYSICAL Submission. - Required for certification of label and pack slip formats. The cost for PHYSICAL tests is $100 ECIA members and $150 for non-ECIA members.
Payment can be provided by credit card online or an accompanying check. DIGITIAL submissions may be immediately uploaded via the testing portal once credit card payment processing is complete. For PHYSICAL submissions, a submission form will be generated and emailed after payment processing. Submission forms contain details needed to process tests and need to be sent in with the label samples.

STEP 3: CERTIFICATION TESTING PROCESS

Bar Code Graphics’ testing division, Identification Labs, will evaluate submitted label samples against the ECIA 2D Barcode Specifications, applicable ISO standards, and provided distributor instructions. Please note DIGITAL submission can only be evaluated for format and data encodation. Upon passing DIGITAL testing, a supplier must still register and submit a PHYSICAL sample. If sample does not pass certification, digital pictures, scan reports and corrective actions will be provided. Suppliers are required to correct and resubmit samples for failed tests.

All testing results and supplier ship point certification statuses will be viewable and archived on the testing portal.

STEP 4: CERTIFICATION TESTING AND APPROVAL PROCESS

A supplier ship point will be deemed APPROVED when all of the formats used by their designated distributors have passed PHYSICAL certification. A supplier will be deemed APPROVED when all of their registered ship points have been approved.

Once 2D formats are certified, you will need to move the certified formats into production. Suppliers are responsible for maintaining acceptable print quality and should implement quality control processes to ensure ongoing label compliance.

Please consult the Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) for additional information.


GENERAL INFORMATION

The ECIA 2D barcode certification program is based on a collaborative effort by the major distributors to facilitate supplier implementation. By creating a unified specification and a relying on a single testing source, the distributors have reduced the time and expense suppliers need to become universally compliant.

Barcode certification should be considered the ground floor for compliance and suppliers are encouraged to establish quality protocols to maintain barcodes which can be consistently used by all of their trading partners.

Hardware and Software Check

In order to comply with the ECIA 2D barcode labeling specifications, suppliers will need the following:


  • On-demand printer - laser or thermal (direct or thermal transfer) printers are best suited for this type of labeling.
  • Barcode software - software capable of creating 2D and linear barcodes. Software solutions can be integrated into existing applications or stand-alone programs requiring user data entry.
  • Barcode imager - a 2D barcode scanning device configured to read 2D and linear barcodes. This is necessary to validate barcode content. To help suppliers pre-test barcodes before submitting for certification, Bar Code Graphics provides an ECIA 2D barcode decoder which will evaluate 2D barcode data and validate format compliance.

If your company is already printing linear barcode labels in-house, there is a good chance your existing printer and software can generate 2D barcodes. Bar Code Graphics does provide complimentary premade sets of templates for the current version of the Bartender labeling software program.