In common parlance, many people know the GTIN as a barcode, but technically the GTIN is the number below the barcode symbol itself, and can therefore also be used for other technologies such as 2D barcodes and RFID tags.
GS1 standards provide a common language for identifying, capturing and sharing information worldwide.
The standards are used to create consistency between a product and the information attached to it, like a product's DNA, as it moves through the supply chain.
Below you can see and read more about how GS1 standards are a common language for identifying, labeling and exchanging information/data.
GS1 identification numbers are used to uniquely identify products, pallets, shipments and locations throughout the supply chain, all over the world. GS1's identification numbers form the foundation for all our products, services and industry solutions.
If you use GS1 identification numbers, you can be sure that no other company uses the same number as you. This means that two products, two pallets or two companies cannot be confused with each other anywhere in the world.
The most common identification number on products. A GTIN is used to identify consumer units, cases and pallets. In order to allocate a GTIN-13 to your products, you must first purchase a GS1 company prefix. If you need to provide additional information to a GTIN, the standard GS1-128 is used.
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If yes, you can generate more with GS1Trade Activate here
Used where there is a need to indicate the actual weight of the product in the barcode itself. If you need to label your products with a quantity variable barcode, please contact our member service.
Used where there is a need to indicate the product's current selling price in the barcode itself. If you need to label your products with a quantity variable barcode, please give us a call or send us an email.
Identification number that may be required for companies exporting to the USA and Canada. If you need to label your products with a UPC barcode, please contact us.
A GTIN-14 identification number can be used to barcode mark and identify trade units, including packages. GTIN-14 is used, for example, if you want to indicate a hierarchy from a product identified with GTIN-13 to larger units. For example, a carton containing 6 retail units. In addition to this, GTIN-14 is frequently used in both GS1-128 barcodes and GS1 systems, such as GS1Trade Sync.
Is only used to identify very small products that are to be scanned at POS, on which it is not possible to fit a GTIN-13 in an EAN-13 barcode.
A 13-digit identification number that uniquely identifies a recipient, sender, point of delivery, inventory, store, etc. (locations).
Identification number that identifies equipment that can be recycled, e.g. a container or a hospital bed. If you need to mark your products with a GRAI, please contact our member service.
See list of internal barcodes here.
Identification number used for books, magazines and journals.
A GSRN is used to identify either the recipient or the individual service provider in a service relationship, such as those used in the electricity and natural gas sectors. If you would like to know more about the use of GSRNs, please contact us.
Identification number for pallets and other types of logistics units. For example, two identical pallets consisting the same product are uniquely identified, each with its own SSCC. This is an advantage for tracking and inventory management. In order to assign SSCC numbers to your units, you must have a GS1 company prefix.
GS1 barcodes and RFID/EPC tags are information carriers for GS1 identification numbers. This means that information (e.g. a GTIN) about the product, pallet, etc. is encoded in a barcode. Using a scanner, you can then retrieve the GS1 identification number into your IT system.
GS1 standards include several types of barcodes developed for different usage scenarios.
The product barcodes we all recognise. These barcodes are mainly used in retail as they cann be scanned at the retail point-os-sale (POS).
Barcode typically used on cases and pallet labels. Is used when you need to encode additional data to your barcode as they can carry all GS1 keys and attributes.
RFID tags with GS1's Electronic Product Code (EPC) do not need to be visible when scanned.
Barcode often used for cases and trade items as it is suitable for being printed directly on corrugated materials.
A 2D barcode that is primarily used in the healthcare sector, but is also used in the grocery sector. Can only be scanned with an camera-based barcode scanner.
GS1 Digital Link is a standard that connects your product information to the web through a barcode that can be scanned directly with for instance a smartphone.
GS1 data exchange is used for sharing different types of data between trading partners, consumers and patients. This could be master data (logistics information, nutritional information, images, ingredients, etc.) about your products, digital exchange of orders, invoices, shipping notes, or advanced traceability across the entire supply chain.
Mandatory for the exchange of master data between global GDSN certified data pools.
The Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) is the standard used for the digital exchange of product master data. GS1 GDSN enables any company in any market to share high-quality product master data easily. The Danish data pool GS1Trade Sync is built on this standard.
Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS) is the standard used for creating and sharing incident data. The standard provides transparency throughout the supply chain and helps answer the questions: What, When, Where, Why and How.
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the standard used for the digital exchange of business documents. The standard helps minimize manual processes and reduce errors. EDI compliance is achieved by following rules before a business document can be sent or received.