> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.supercycle.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Serializing items > How and why to track items with unique serial numbers Serialising items means giving each product a unique identifier, a digital fingerprint. This transforms your inventory from generic stock into a traceable network of assets you can measure, automate, and monetise. *** ## Benefits of serializing items * **Item-level reporting** such as item utilisation, lifecycle, and revenue attribution. * **Consignment tracking** for accurate payouts and settlements on consigned stock. * **Operational speed and accuracy** by quickly scanning items without the need to search or touch the app admin. * **Automated workflows** can be triggered to update item status, send reminders, or prompt actions based on specific item data. *** ## Supported tag types Supercycle supports **QR codes**, **barcodes**, and **RFID tags**, depending on your scale and use case. *** ### QR codes QR codes are 2D scannable codes readable by smartphones and tablets. | **Advantages** | **Limitations** | | ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | | Simple and inexpensive to produce. | Slower for large-scale scanning. | | Can be scanned using any camera or mobile device. | Requires line-of-sight and clean label surfaces. | | Can encode more data than a traditional barcode. | Can degrade with abrasion or moisture. | QR codes are well suited to industries where staff scan items with phones rather than warehouse hardware. * Fashion rental and resale * Consumer electronics rental * Baby gear and lifestyle equipment rental #### Recommended setup * Print on standard adhesive or vinyl labels. * Works with consumer-grade thermal or inkjet printers. * For label printing: [Avery Weatherproof QR Code Labels](https://www.avery.com/products/labels/5523) * For thermal printers: [Zebra ZD421](https://www.zebra.com/us/en/products/printers/desktop/zd421.html) * For apparel labels: [Dutch Label Shop](https://www.dutchlabelshop.com/) *** ### Barcodes Barcodes are one-dimensional codes and widely used in retail and logistics. They can be scanned using standard barcode scanners or compatible mobile devices. | **Advantages** | **Limitations** | | ------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------- | | Fast scanning speed, especially for bulk handling. | Requires dedicated scanner hardware for best performance. | | Compatible with existing retail and warehouse systems. | Can only encode a small amount of data. | | Integrates easily with POS and logistics software. | Must be aligned and visible to be scanned. | Bluetooth barcode scanners can also be used directly in the Supercycle admin in any search field. Barcodes are best suited to high-throughput or hardware-driven operations where dedicated scanners are already in use. #### Recommended setup * Use **thermal transfer** or **direct thermal** label printers. * Choose **polypropylene or vinyl** labels for durability. * For printer hardware: [Zebra ZT230](https://www.zebra.com/us/en/products/printers/industrial/zt230.html) * For labels: [Avery Durable Barcode Labels](https://www.avery.com/products/labels/61525) *** ### RFID tags RFID (radio frequency identification) tags use embedded chips to transmit data wirelessly. They can be scanned in bulk, even without direct line-of-sight. This is our recommended route for most merchants where scale is a key consideration. | **Advantages** | **Limitations** | | -------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | | Enables instant bulk scanning of many items at once. | Higher setup cost (readers, tags, and printers). | | Works through packaging and without visual contact. | Requires compatible RFID readers and printers. | | Extremely durable and ideal for industrial environments. | More complex setup and integration process. | RFID is best suited to high-volume environments that require automation, rapid throughput or full asset traceability. #### Recommended setup * Use UHF RFID tags for long-range scanning (3–10 meters). * For printers: [Zebra ZT411 RFID Printer](https://www.zebra.com/us/en/products/printers/industrial/zt411.html) * For readers: [Impinj R700 RFID Reader](https://www.impinj.com/products/readers/impinj-r700) * For tags: [Omni-ID IQ 600 RFID Label](https://www.omni-id.com/products/iq-600/) *** ## Adding serials To add a serial, you'll first need to create an item, then add a unique serial number to that item. ### Create items You should create inventory inside your Supercycle product, not your Shopify product, as Supercycle is responsible for inventory management after import. In Shopify Admin, head to **Supercycle** > [**Products**](https://admin.shopify.com/apps/supercycle/products/) > **Product**.

In the variants table, under the status you want to add a product, select the current quantity dropdown followed by **Add inventory**.

On the next page, add a serial number on a new line for each item you'd like to create. Alternatively, select **Add without serials** and enter a number of items. You can add serials to the newly created items later from their item page.

Click **Review** to continue. Review the items you're about to add and click **Add inventory** to save your changes.

Always use the provided template (Sample CSV). Exports often contain extra columns that imports ignore. Download example CSV

Every row represents one item. Include these columns:

Column	Purpose
Item	Unique ID for the item (for example, #2001). New ID = new item. Existing ID = update that item.
Variant Shopify ID	Links the item to its Shopify product variant.
SKU	Stock keeping unit. Recommended even if Variant ID is included.
Visibility	Sets whether the item is `available` or `unavailable`.
Status	Workflow state, such as `processed`, `unprocessed`, or `retired`.

Optional columns include Condition. Mandatory fields for the import

Use a **new Item ID** or **Serial number** and provide the correct Variant Shopify ID and SKU.\ Example: Example CSV row for new items

Keep the **same Item ID** but change values like condition, visibility, or status.\ Example: Example CSV row for updating existing items

The importer cannot delete items. To remove an item from circulation, set:

Visibility = unavailable
Status = retired

Example:

Import the completed CSV into Supercycle. Changes are applied immediately, and the store owner receives an email report showing how many items were added, how many were updated, and any failures. ## Common mistakes * Leaving **Variant Shopify ID** and **SKU** blank → item cannot be linked. * Reusing an **Item ID** for a new unit → overwrites instead of creating. You can create a new item by scanning a serial number with the [Supercycle Scanner](/documentation/manage/scanner/scanner). If the scanned serial number doesn't already exist in Supercycle, the **Create item** modal opens automatically. Press **Select a product** to load the full product list. Scroll or search to find the product and variant for the item you've scanned. Confirm the status for the new item (`Active`, `Draft`, `Retired`, `Sold`). Press **Create item** to finish adding the new item to your inventory. After the item is created, Supercycle opens the item details page. From there, you can review and update additional info, such as the pick location. When you're in a [multi-scan session](/documentation/manage/scanner/scanner#scan-modes) with a Zebra scanner, any unknown serials show as **Unknown tag** rows. You can turn them into items in one step: The count next to **Create item** shows how many unknown serials will be created. The same product and status applies to every serial in the batch. The serials are listed read-only so you can confirm what you're creating. Press **Create items** to create them in one call. The multi-scan list automatically re-resolves the serials, so the rows flip from **Unknown** to **Matched** and become eligible for the other bulk actions. *** ### Create serials To create a serial, you can either generate your own unique code and program it onto a tag, or use pre-coded tags with unique IDs and assign those to items in Supercycle. In progess. In progress. In progress.