SKU & barcode cleanup: one product at a time

Guide

As a catalogue grows, the same product can pick up different codes in different places. A little tidying makes its journey from stock record to listing easier to follow. You can start with one product or a small batch, rather than taking on the whole catalogue at once.

This checklist and CSV worksheet help you record what you find and agree the next step. No ChannelWeave account is needed to use them.

Know which code you are checking

• SKU: the code you use to identify a stock item or sellable variant.
• Barcode: a separate identifier, which may be assigned by a manufacturer or used internally. Check which kind you are looking at before changing it.
• Listing ID: the Channel's identifier for a listing. It is not a replacement for your SKU.

In the worksheet, canonical simply means the code you intend to keep as the reference for that item. The example rows and identifiers are illustrative; replace them with your own verified records.

Start with one familiar product

Suppose a red mug is called MUG-RED in your stock record and MUG-RED-DUP on a listing. That is a useful clue, not enough on its own to combine records. Check the product, variant, pack size and stock pool first. Two similar titles or a shared barcode can still refer to different sellable items or individual copies.

1. Keep a starting copy. Save the current stock and listing exports so you can see exactly what changed later.
2. Put related rows together. Record each Channel, listing ID, current SKU and barcode in the worksheet.
3. Confirm the product. Note any differences in variant, condition, unit or pack size. Leave the proposed code blank while you investigate an uncertainty.
4. Agree the reference code. Where records really represent the same item, note the intended SKU and any verified barcode correction. Preserve old codes in your notes so you can trace earlier records.
5. Try the change on a small batch. Use the supported mapping or editing workflow in the relevant system, then check the affected listings and stock.

How to use the downloads

The CSV is a review worksheet, not a file to upload directly into ChannelWeave's stock importer. Its columns record current and proposed codes, the issue, the next person to check it and your notes. Open it with identifier columns treated as text so leading zeros and long barcodes stay intact.

Once you have agreed the changes, prepare a separate import using the receiving system's required columns, or make the reviewed edits there. For ChannelWeave, the stock import guide explains validation and the supported file format.

The step-by-step checklist is a short plain-text companion you can keep beside the worksheet. If you work alone, use your own name in the owner column; there is no need to invent a team structure.

Check the result before widening the batch

• The listing points to the intended product, variant and stock pool.
• Barcode values still match the relevant product evidence and retain their original formatting where appropriate.
• Existing orders and references can still be followed through their old codes.
• A controlled check shows the intended stock and listing behaviour, without making an unplanned change to live availability.

Keep the starting export, the agreed changes and the result of that check together. If anything is unclear, keep that item on the review list and move on to a product you can resolve confidently.

Make the next tidy-up smaller

In ChannelWeave, Settings → Inventory → SKU policy can help keep a chosen naming pattern consistent. Start with Warn mode while you review the results; consider Block mode once you are comfortable with the pattern and any stock-group exceptions. The SKU policy guide walks through the options.

Choose a review rhythm that suits how often your catalogue changes. A small check when you add products or a Channel is often easier than letting a long list of questions build up.