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Alternative to UPC?
A new alternative to UPCs has begun to emerge. Where UPC is a closed and regulated system you must by access to, ThingLink, is an open network to identify products. Register with the site, and you can start entering details of your “things” to generate a unique ThingLink code. Intended primarily for “makers” of “things”, this is a low impact tracking system for anything you register with the site.
While it will probably never supplant UPC entirely (or even at all), due to it’s ubiquitous nature, and entire industries and retail outlets already employing Barcode scanners for inventory and checkout procedures, ThingLink is a great idea, and a free alternative to the UPC system. The service will appeal more to artists and artisans that are making limited run items and still want a way for people to find out more about them later.
As an experiment, I’ve registered Polyvibe Records’ first two releases with the site (which seems to be a bit buggy at the moment):
- Future Funk Collective - Future Funk Collective
- Thing:105ENN
- A_Scissors - Flux Decapitator
- Thing:742GEM
While the actual releases won’t be labeled with their ThingLinks, future releases might. We’ll still have to register UPCs, as they are required by our distributors, and I don’t expect them to adopt the ThingLink system anytime soon. But there might be some value in registering each release with both Systems. However, if you don’t put a UPC symbol on your stuff, due to cost or other reasons, ThingLink is definitely the way to go.
