SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)
Definition
A SKU is a unique alphanumeric code internally assigned by a company to identify each distinct variation of a product. Unlike GTIN/EAN (which is a global market standard), SKU is customized for internal management. A product may have the same barcode, but if the company sells it individually and in packs, each modality will have a different SKU.
SKU Granularity in WMS
For the WMS, the SKU is the foundation of all logical organization. Every detail that differentiates one item from another requires its own SKU:
Attributes
If you sell a specific t-shirt model, you will have different SKUs for Blue Small T-shirt, Blue Medium T-shirt, and Red Small T-shirt.
Location Management
The WMS uses SKU to determine the best Slotting strategy (e.g., high-turnover SKUs are placed near the shipping zone).
Performance Reports
Allows you to know exactly which product variants have the highest turnover and which are generating unnecessary storage costs.