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Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) | Freight-Academy™

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GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026

Stock Keeping Unit (SKU)

Unlike the manufacturer-assigned GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), which identifies a product globally, a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) is a company-internal alphanumeric code assigned to a specific product variant.

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Unlike the manufacturer-assigned GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), which identifies a product globally, a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) is a company-internal alphanumeric code assigned to a specific…

Warehouse operators and logistics providers define their own SKUs to manage inventory levels, control picking workflows, and track goods movements within a warehouse management system (WMS).

A single GTIN can map to multiple SKUs – for instance, when the same article is stocked in different colours, sizes, or pack quantities.

Last updated: 22 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock-keeping_unit

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Stock Keeping Unit (SKU)

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Definition & Explanation

Unlike the manufacturer-assigned GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), which identifies a product globally, a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) is a company-internal alphanumeric code assigned to a specific product variant. Warehouse operators and logistics providers define their own SKUs to manage inventory levels, control picking workflows, and track goods movements within a warehouse management system (WMS). A single GTIN can map to multiple SKUs – for instance, when the same article is stocked in different colours, sizes, or pack quantities. A well-structured SKU system underpins accurate slot allocation, error-free order picking, and reliable inventory reporting.

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Recommended format: Source: Freight Academy – Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) (https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/stock-keeping-unit-sku), accessed 2026-09-28
APA style: Freight Academy Editorial Team. (2025). Stock Keeping Unit (SKU). Freight Academy. https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/stock-keeping-unit-sku
BibTeX: @misc{stockkeepingunit2025, title = {Stock Keeping Unit (SKU)}, author = {{Freight Academy Editorial Team}}, year = {2025}, url = {https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/stock-keeping-unit-sku}, note = {Freight Academy, accessed 2026-09-28} }

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