GS1 System : Definitions and data structures

Definitions and data structures

The kind of information which supports an efficient supply chain includes elements such as :
- what is an item ? a service ? How communicate to a third party ?
- what is a date ? how is a date to be noted : yy.mm.dd or in another sequence ?
- what is a lot number ?
- how is a location to be identified ?

The GS1 System answers these questions. For instance, it defines trade items, products and/or services sold, delivered, warehoused, and billed throughout the retail and commercial distribution channels which are identifyed at their source by their manufacturer. This identification takes place in a 14 digit number, and will be used as such during the whole lifecycle of the item. More information about the GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) can be found on a detailed description.

GS1-128 The robust datacarrier which enables traceability on mid- to large items

Reduced Space Symbology (RSS) and Composite Symbology (CS) enable traceability on mid- to small items

Datamatrix is the most recent symbology in the GS1 System. It makes traceability possible on (very) small items.
It has been adopted by the Animal Health industry, and is recommended by the European Pharmaceutical Industry for the marking of retail packs.

Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) is an additional datacarrier to enable traceability. This plays an essential role for the Electronic Product Code (EPC)

EAN-13 is probabely the most known symbology belonging to the GS1 System. It carries the identity of the item, but does not allow traceability (because lot number / serial number and expiry date are missing here). The possibility exists to add on the top of EAN-13 a Composite Symbology (CS) which can transport the data for traceability purposes.

GTIN - Global Trade Item Number The Global Trade Item Number™ (GTIN™) is used for the unique identification of trade items worldwide.
A trade item is any item (product or service) upon which there is a need to retrieve pre-defined information and that may be priced, or ordered, or invoiced at any point in any supply chain. This includes individual items as well as all their different configurations in different types of packaging.
These data structures provide unique identification when they are right-justified in a 14-digit reference field, called the GTIN Format.

SSCC - Serial Shipping container Code A logistic unit is an item of any composition established for transport and/or storage which needs to be managed through the supply chain. The identification and symbol marking of logistic units enables a large number of user applications. In particular, the SSCC provides a link between the physical logistic unit and information pertaining to the logistic unit that is communicated between trading partners using
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).

GSRN - Global Service Relationship Number The Global Service Relation Number (GSRN) is used to identify the recipient of services in the context of a service relationship. It provides a unique and unambiguous identification number for the service provider to store data relevant to service(s) provided to the recipient. The GSRN is the key to access information stored on computer systems

GLN - Global Location Number Global Location Numbers (GLNs) can be used to identify any physical location or legal entity that has meaning within a business scenario. The general rule is that a separate GLN is required to identify each different location (e.g., each store of a retail group is required to have a separate GLN to enable efficient delivery to the individual drugstore).

eCom By using GS1 eCom standards like GS1 EANCOM or GS1 XML, a standardised and predictable structure of electronic business messages is provided.
Business partners can communicate business data rapidly, efficiently and accurately, irrespective of their internal hardware and software.
By using this standard and readily-available format, business partners do not have to align the format and structure of their messages.

BarCodes Global standards for automatic identification.
Rapid and accurate, item, asset or location identification.

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