If you have been manually typing out product titles, copying descriptions from manufacturer websites, and hunting down images one product at a time, you already know how slow this process is.
For a store with dozens or hundreds of SKUs, that approach does not scale, and it burns time you do not have.The good news is that barcodes already contain the data you need.
Most retail products carry a UPC or EAN code that links to a database of product information. The question is whether your tools actually use it.
Yes, you can. If a product has a barcode, you can scan it and a structured product listing appears with the title, description, category, dimensions, and images ready to review. No typing required.
Scan2Sell is a Shopify app built specifically for this. You scan the barcode, the listing details appear, you add your price and quantity, then publish.
Install Scan2Sell on Shopify — Free Trial
You review everything, set your price, enter your quantity, make any edits you want, and publish directly to Shopify.
Not every barcode will return a complete dataset. Coverage depends on whether the product is in the database. Branded consumer products, electronics, and books tend to have strong coverage. Niche or specialty items may return partial information, which you can fill in manually before publishing.
What Types of Barcodes Work
Most standard retail barcodes work with Scan2Sell. UPC-A and UPC-E codes cover the majority of US retail products including grocery, hardware, and electronics. EAN-13 and EAN-8 codes are the international equivalent and are common on products from the UK, Europe, and beyond. ISBN-13 and ISBN-10 codes work for books.
QR codes are not currently supported for listing creation. If a product has no barcode at all, such as a handmade or vintage item, you can use the photo scan option instead. Take a photo and Scan2Sell uses it as a reference to help structure the listing.
What You Need to Get Started
The setup is minimal. You need a Shopify store, the Scan2Sell app installed, and a way to scan barcodes. Most merchants start with nothing more than their phone camera.
If you are processing higher volumes, a Bluetooth handheld scanner pairs with the app and fits naturally into an existing in-store or stockroom workflow.
Scan2Sell is $19 per month for 100 scans. If you are working through a larger inventory, scan packs are available separately and do not expire: 500 scans for $49 or 2,000 scans for $99.
Product Title
The recognized product name appears automatically, ready to edit if needed.
Description
A structured product description appears based on available product data.
Category
A Shopify category is suggested based on the product type recognized from the scan.
Dimensions
Weight and size details appear where available from the product database.
Images
Product images appear automatically when you scan, ready to include in your listing.
If you are working through a full shipment rather than individual products, you can also upload a CSV file with multiple barcodes and Scan2Sell processes them together.
FAQs
Can I use my phone camera instead of a barcode scanner? Yes. The app works with your phone camera out of the box. A Bluetooth scanner is an option for higher volumes but you do not need one to get started.
What happens if the product is not in the database? If a barcode does not return results, use the photo scan option. Take a photo of the product and Scan2Sell uses it as a reference to help structure the listing.
Does this work with a Bluetooth barcode scanner? Yes. Scan2Sell supports handheld Bluetooth scanners and integrates with Shopify POS, so if you are already scanning in-store the workflow fits right in.
What about handmade or unbranded items with no barcode? The photo scan option handles these. Take a picture of the product and use that as your starting point. You fill in the specifics, which is still faster than starting from a blank form.
Can I edit the listing before it goes live? Always. Every listing that appears from a scan is a draft. You review, edit, price, and choose when to publish.
