Standard numbering structure

Standard numbering structure for the identification of goods, services, shipments, assets and locations. The main elements of the numbering system covered as follow:

The Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) (barcode): The GS1 Identification Key used to identify trade items. The key is comprised of a GS1 Company Prefix followed by an item Reference Number and a Check Digit.

The Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC): The GS1 Identification Key used to identify logistic units. The key is comprised of GS1 Company Prefix, Serial Reference, and Check Digit. It is an eighteen digit number that follows the Application Identifier (00) and is represented in a GS1-128 barcode. It is like a unique "license plate" assigned to a logistic unit.

The Global Location Number (GLN) : The GS1 Identification Key used to identify physical locations or legal entities. The key is comprised of a GS1 Company Prefix, Location Reference, and Check Digit.

Data carriers

Data carriers (usually barcodes) to represent the identification numbers in machine readable format, the numbers used in the GS1 System are represented in data carriers that enable automatic capture of the data.

Messaging standards

Messaging standards to transmit the captured data between trading partners