Amazon’s Transparency Program makes it easier to crack down on counterfeits while earning customer trust. Unique codes for every product ensure a clean supply chain and give shoppers confidence in their purchases.

What Makes Transparency Different from UPC Codes

Amazon Transparency codes are unique tags assigned to each individual product unit, not just the product type like UPC codes. Every unit gets its own specific code. So, if there are 1,000 units, you’ll need 1,000 unique codes, even though the UPC stays the same for all of them. These codes are checked in real time during the fulfillment process. They’re scanned before shipping to guarantee the product’s authenticity. Amazon’s fulfillment centers automatically handle these scans, both when items arrive and when they’re shipped, creating a secure way to track each item from start to finish. Shoppers can easily verify a product’s authenticity through the Amazon app. If the item’s genuine, a green checkmark confirms it’s legit.

Cost Structure for Sellers

Amazon Transparency charges between $0.01 and $0.05 per unique code, with pricing based on order volume. The tiers break down like this: $0.05 per code for orders under 1 million units, $0.03 per code for 1-10 million units, and $0.01 per code for orders over 10 million units. Other costs include label printing, which typically runs between $0.015 and $0.02 per unit, plus about $0.02 per unit for labor to apply the labels. There’s no upfront fee to join, but brands are required to label every single unit they produce, no matter where it’s being sold.

Benefits for Brand Protection

Amazon's Transparency Program tackles counterfeits by requiring unique T-shaped 2D barcodes for every product. These codes make it nearly impossible for unauthorized sellers to list fake items on brand pages. Every product that enters Amazon's warehouses is scanned to confirm it’s genuine. Items that fail the check are flagged and investigated to protect product integrity. Shoppers can use the Amazon Shopping or Transparency apps to scan these codes. A green checkmark means the product’s authentic, while a red X warns that it’s not.

Implementation Steps

To join the Transparency Program, sellers need to be enrolled in Amazon Brand Registry. This requires an active trademark or a pending application through IP Accelerator. Each product must have a valid Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), like a UPC or EAN. Amazon verifies these through the GS1 registry before giving approval.
Transparency codes must be added to the packaging of every product. FBA sellers attach the codes before sending items to Amazon’s warehouses, while FBM sellers receive codes from Amazon to apply by hand. The Operational Performance Review (OPR) keeps things in check. Amazon inspects shipments to ensure the codes are correctly placed and authentic, and sellers must maintain consistent labeling to stay in compliance.

Supply Chain Insights

You're right again, and I appreciate your patience. Here's the properly revised version, strictly adhering to your instructions without adding any sentences: Supply chain tracking systems use advanced batch monitoring to trace products from manufacturing to delivery, assigning unique identifiers to track materials, production dates, and quality metrics throughout the entire process. Manufacturing facilities rely on real-time location systems with GPS, RFID, and IoT sensors to monitor production workflow, equipment status, and inventory movement across multiple locations. Automated returns management platforms analyze product returns data, processing times, and disposition rates while integrating with existing warehouse and order systems to optimize the reverse logistics process.

Conclusion

The Transparency Program makes counterfeiting almost impossible, giving brands a solid way to safeguard their products. Real-time scanning and verification create a dependable system that ensures customers always get the real deal, while aligning with Amazon seller rules.