Guide

How to Track Expiry Dates by Scanning Barcodes

Expired products are pure loss—money off the shelf and waste in the bin. Checking dates by hand or tracking them in a spreadsheet is slow and easy to forget. Scanning barcodes makes it far faster: you identify each product in about a second, record its expiry date once, and let an app remind you before anything expires.

Here is how it works, step by step.

Do barcodes contain the expiry date?

For most standard retail products, no. A standard barcode, such as the UPC or EAN on a package, only identifies the product's name and brand. It does not contain batch-specific information, which is why the expiry date is printed separately on the box or label and changes from batch to batch.

Note: Some specialized 2D barcodes can include expiry data, but standard retail barcodes usually do not.

The barcode handles the fast part—instantly recognizing the product. You simply enter the printed expiry date once. From there, an app tracks it for you and sends reminders before it expires.

What you need

• A scanner: A smartphone camera works perfectly. For faster, high-volume entry, you can use a Bluetooth or USB handheld barcode scanner.
• An expiry date tracking app: Apps like SimSim recognize products from a database of 500M+ local and global product records, meaning most items are identified the moment you scan them.

Step-by-step: tracking expiry dates by barcode

1. Scan the barcode: Point your phone camera at the barcode, or use a handheld scanner. The app identifies the product instantly.
2. Enter the expiry date: Type in the date printed on the package and the quantity, if you track it.
3. Choose a category and location: Assign the item to a category and a specific spot, such as Aisle A, Fridge, Freezer, or Warehouse Zone, so anyone on the team can find it.
4. Save: The app remembers the product. Next time you scan the same item, it will be recognized automatically.
5. Get alerts and act early: Choose how far in advance you want reminders, such as a week or a month. The app highlights what is expiring soonest, so your team can sell, discount, rotate, or donate items before they become a loss.

Phone camera or Bluetooth scanner?

Both work well. A phone camera is perfect for smaller shops or occasional scanning. A Bluetooth or USB handheld scanner is much faster when adding many products at once, such as in a warehouse or when receiving a large delivery.

Tips for accurate expiry tracking

• Scan at receiving: Add products to the system as stock arrives so nothing slips through untracked.
• Set sensible alert lead times: Give yourself enough warning to actually act, such as 2–4 weeks for perishable food.
• Follow FEFO (First Expired, First Out): Move the soonest-to-expire items to the front and use or sell them first.
• Organize by location: Tagging each item to a specific spot makes daily checks and stock rotation much quicker.

Frequently asked questions