Before you start scanning products at checkout, you need a barcode or QR code. If your product doesn’t come with one from the supplier or manufacturer, here’s how to choose a code type, create unique codes for each product or variant, link them to your products in Yoco, and choose a printing setup that works for your business.

✨ Barcode or QR code? Barcodes and QR codes both work with the Yoco Barcode Scanner, but they're not the same thing. Barcodes store information in a series of vertical lines and are best for products that already have one from a supplier. QR codes store more information, are more reliable to scan, and are the better choice if you're creating your own labels from scratch.

1. Create a unique code for each product or variant

When creating the unique code you’ll be using to generate barcodes or QR codes for your products, keep them simple. Stick to letters, numbers, and hyphens, and leave out prices, long descriptions, or special characters.

For example:

Product	Variant	Suggested code
T-shirt	Small	TSHIRT-BLK-S
T-shirt	Medium	TSHIRT-BLK-M
T-shirt	Large	TSHIRT-BLK-L
Coffee	250 g	COFFEE-250G
Coffee	1 kg	COFFEE-1KG

💡 Good to know: Yoco automatically generates an SKU for each product, which you can also use as the unique code for your barcode or QR code – no need to spend extra time creating one yourself.

☕ Products that are exactly the same can share the same code, e.g. all 250 g bags of the same coffee blend can use the same barcode or QR code.

2. Generate a barcode or QR code

Use a free online tool like Orca Scan to create your QR codes or barcodes.

Barcode: https://orcascan.com/tools/qr-code-generator

QR code: https://orcascan.com/tools/barcode-generator

✨ Top tips:

Don’t create random EAN or UPC retail barcodes unless you already have official retail barcode numbers.
Choose a Text or Plain text QR code type if the tool gives you options – don’t choose a website QR code.

❗Important: If you plan to sell through retailers, distributors, or online marketplaces, you may need official GS1 barcodes (GTINs). Many retailers require these, and GS1 South Africa is the official provider.

For products sold directly through your business, we recommend using Code 128 barcodes, which don't require registration and is a good option for internal product labels because it supports letters and numbers.

3. Link your barcodes or QR codes to your products

Click here for a step-by-step guide to linking your codes to your products on your Counter/Yoco POS App or in the Yoco App (mobile or web).

💡 Good to know: Only staff members with the Manage products permission can link products to barcodes or QR codes.

❗Important: The code printed on the label must match the value saved in the product’s Barcode field in Yoco. For example, if your QR code contains CANDLE-VANILLA-100ML, then the product’s Barcode field in Yoco must also be CANDLE-VANILLA-100ML.

4. Create your labels

There are a number of software options you can use to create and print your barcode or QR code labels – there’s no need to use a specific barcode or QR code generator.

→ Printer software

If you use a dedicated label printer, the software that comes with the printer is typically your best bet, e.g. Brother P-touch Editor, DYMO Connect, ZebraDesigner Essentials.

Yoco doesn’t sell or officially support third-party label printers, so make sure you check the printer’s label sizes, software, device compatibility, and label roll costs before buying.

→ Free online software

Orca Scan and Avert Design & Print are two free software options that work well for different business needs.

Orca Scan is designed as a broader barcode management platform. It lets you generate and print barcodes and QR codes, create custom labels with logos, text, and images, and supports a range of barcode formats. It works well if you want more control over your barcode data.

Avery Design & Print is the better option if ease of use is your priority. It's built specifically for creating and printing labels, with a simple drag-and-drop experience, strong design tools, and a wide range of label templates. It's a good fit if you want clean, professional-looking labels without much setup.

🎨 Want more control over what your labels look like? With Canva you can design professional-looking branded labels, stickers and product packaging for your business – quickly and easily. The tool includes barcode and QR code generator tools, as well as ready-made label templates to help you design your labels and print them yourself.

Good to know: Canva works well for small-batch bulk barcode or QR code printing. For printing, Avery Design & Print or your label printer’s own software may be easier.

Important: If you use Canva, make sure the QR code or barcode contains the product code saved in Yoco. Don’t create a website QR code unless you want the QR code to open a website.

5. Choose how to print your labels

There are a number of ways to print labels, depending on your setup.

→ Standard printer and label sheets

Best for:

Small product catalogues.
Low-volume printing.
Merchants who already have an inkjet or laser printer.
Testing barcode or QR code labels before investing in a label printer.

You’ll need:

A standard inkjet or laser printer.
Printable label sheets.
A label template that matches your label sheet.
Your barcode or QR code values.

What to do:

Add the codes to your label template.
Print a test page on normal paper first.
Check that the labels line up correctly.
Print onto your label sheet.

✨ Top tip: Choose a label size that gives you enough space for the barcode or QR code, plus the product name or SKU.

→ Online label design tool (e.g. Avery Design & Print or Orca Scan)

This is a good option if you need to print many labels and want a cleaner, more consistent layout.

Best for:

Medium-sized product catalogues.
Bulk label printing.
Merchants who update or reprint labels often.
Merchants who want to import product data from a spreadsheet.

What to do:

Export your product list from Yoco, or prepare your own spreadsheet.
Open your label design tool.
Choose the label size you’re printing on.
Import or copy your barcode values into the template.
Generate the labels.
Print a test page.

✨ Top tip: If you’re printing in bulk, keep your spreadsheet simple. Include only the fields you need, such as product name, variant, SKU, and barcode value.

→ Dedicated label printer

Best for:

Retail stores with large product catalogues.
Frequent relabelling.
Daily stock operations.
Merchants who want faster and more durable labels.

💡 Good to know: Brother, DYMO, and Zebra (available through Takealot.com and other local online suppliers), offer a range of label printers to suit your business needs.

🖨️ Label printer checklist

Does it work with your computer or device?
Does it support the label sizes you need?
Can its software create barcodes or QR codes?
How much do replacement label rolls cost?
Does it require specific branded labels?

6. Test your labels before printing in bulk

Test a few labels before you commit to printing in bulk. Here's how.

Print one label.
Link it to the correct product (Click here for a detailed guide)
Open the Sell tab on Yoco Counter/Yoco POS App.
Scan the label.
Check that the correct product is added to the sale.

💡 Good to know: Hold the barcode scanner about 5 cm away when scanning small barcodes or QR codes, and 15–20 cm away when scanning larger ones.

✨ Tips for easy-to-scan labels

Print in black on a white or light background.
Don’t print in draft or low-quality mode.
Don’t stretch or squash the barcode or QR code.
Leave blank space around the code.
Keep the label flat.
Avoid placing labels on curved, wrinkled, or damaged packaging.
Avoid glossy tape or packaging that causes glare.
Print the code large enough to scan easily.

💬 Label FAQs

Can Yoco generate or print barcodes? No, Yoco doesn't currently generate or print barcode labels. You can use your own product SKUs, a barcode or QR code generator, and a printer to create labels for your products.

Should I use barcodes or QR codes? If you're creating new labels, we recommend using QR codes. The Yoco Barcode Scanner can scan both barcodes and QR codes, but QR codes can store more information and are more reliable to scan.

Can I use my product SKU as the barcode or QR code? Yes, this is a good option for products that don't already have barcodes. Create a simple, unique SKU for each product or variant, then use that SKU as the value inside the barcode or QR code, e.g. TSHIRT-BLK-M. The same value must be saved in the product's Barcode field in Yoco.

Do I need one code for every item? You need one code for every product or product variant you want to scan. For example, if you sell the same T-shirt in three sizes, each size should have a different code. If all items are exactly the same product and variant, they can use the same code.

Do I need official retail barcodes? Not always. If you're only using the codes to scan products at your own Yoco checkout, your own product SKUs can work well. If you want to sell your products through other retailers, distributors, or marketplaces, check their barcode requirements first. You may need official GS1 barcodes or GTINs. GS1 South Africa says products sold through many online and traditional retailers need GS1 barcodes and GTINs.