GS1 and GTIN FAQs
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. For specific advice applicable to your business, please contact a professional.
GS1 US is part of one of the largest identification and standards organisations in the world. Best known as the administrator of the Universal Product Code (U.P.C.†) barcode, GS1 US maintains and advocates for the use of other data standards that support the supply chain. A not-for-profit organisation, GS1 US helps companies uniquely identify products, locations and other assets and share information about these assets with trading partners and consumers in a consistent way.
GS1 collaborates with different industries to create best practices for developing efficient supply chains and effective business relationships. The organisation also helps businesses provide consumers access to trustworthy information about the products they buy.
GTIN® is the acronym for Global Trade Item Number®. It’s a number that uniquely identifies a product. GTINs are used as the global standard to identify products and all of their unique variations such as size and colour. GTINs may be used online to improve SEO, list on marketplaces and identify your products with logistics centres. GTINs are listed at the bottom of U.P.C. barcodes. The U.P.C. is the most widely used barcode in the world and is on just about every product in physical stores and online.
While there are third-party barcode companies that allow a business to purchase barcodes and the identification numbers encoded in them, most retailers rely on GS1-issued GTINs to link the company’s brand identity to the product or service being sold. You can make sure you have GS1 US-issued GTINs that link your brand to your product by joining GS1 US in one of two ways:
- License a GS1 Company Prefix: A GS1 Company Prefix is a unique number assigned to your company only that will serve as the first several digits of your GTINs. Prefixes come in different capacities and prices depending on how many identification numbers you need to create.
- License a single GS1 US GTIN: If you only need a few GTINs, you can license individual GTINs. When you license a GS1 US GTIN, your company is uniquely and exclusively identified as the owner of that number, and you get access to other GS1 US member benefits.
Some marketplace guidelines will refer to both U.P.C.s and GTINs; however, the U.P.C. is a barcode symbol with black lines and spaces, and the GTIN is the identification number encoded into the barcode. A U.P.C. barcode, together with a product’s GTIN, make it easy for businesses to track a product. However, GTINs are increasingly used on their own in online product listings to help form a bridge between a product’s physical presence and its digital identity and to prove product authenticity.
No. Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) created within your proprietary systems can’t be used as GTINs. Unlike a SKU, a GTIN issued by GS1 US is unique and globally identifiable as belonging to you alone. However, many businesses use GTINs as SKUs to maintain one consistent identifier for each product.
The short answer is: maybe. Although there are some exemptions, many marketplaces require GTINs or U.P.C.s for unique product identification, so it is always a good idea to check vendor requirement documents. Just keep in mind that unique identification will likely be required if you intend to grow your business. An early investment in unique product identification is a great way to scale seamlessly. Licensing a GS1 US GTIN and associating it with your product online can also improve search engine optimisation, validate your product authenticity online and make sure that the right product reaches the right consumer.
Whether you licensed a GS1 Company Prefix or a single GS1 US GTIN, you have access to GS1 US Data Hub, an online tool for GS1 US members to create and manage GTINs and barcodes. Once logged in to Data Hub, users can download barcodes in PNG format and digitally send them to partners. Many members work with a GS1 US Solution Partner to outsource barcode labelling and printing needs. These providers are trained by GS1 US on GS1 standards for barcodes.
A Global Location Number (GLN) is another type of GS1 identification number used primarily in electronic messages to identify legal and physical locations. Many businesses need to identify locations similar to the way they identify products. Identifying their locations can help a company enhance their supply chain visibility and transparency.
For example, the warehouse where you store your product may have a GLN, or even a specific bay or shelf where products are stored can be identified. You might assign your business a GLN to provide it a distinct, global identity for electronic data exchange. You can create GLNs from a GS1 Company Prefix or purchase individual GLNs.
One of the first steps that many businesses take before a product launch is visiting the GS1 US Barcode Estimator. This online tool can help you determine how many GTINs you will need based on simple questions about your product variations such as style, colour and size.
Also, for small businesses starting out, the GS1 US Small Business Page features Q&As and videos with other business owners who shared advice about barcodes and other product launch considerations.
Have additional questions? Reach out to the GS1 US Member Support TeamTeam directly online or by phone.
†In this article, the letters ‘U.P.C.’ are used solely as an abbreviation for the ‘Universal Product Code’, which is a product identification system. They do not refer to the UPC, which is a federally registered certification mark of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) to certify compliance with a Uniform Plumbing Code as authorised by IAPMO.