GTIN means Global Trade Item Number and is an integral part of the GS1 family of codes and standards that facilitate trade and commerce around the world. Each GTIN number is a unique identifier for a product or service and can be encoded within a data carrier like a barcode.
GTIN is somewhat of an umbrella term for several different GS1 standards which include the widely used UPC (Universal Product Code), which is itself often used as a synonym for a barcode.
GTIN is a universal standard for businesses worldwide, facilitating product checkouts, warehouse cataloguing, and online databases. Working in combination with the GS1 standardised GLN (global location number), GTIN numbers are essential for supply chain efficiency and assist in the control of counterfeiting.
For a vast percentage of global trading partners, GTINs are mandatory: their use is simply too essential to business operations. However, certain GTIN exemptions on products not marked as mandatory for GTIN may be granted on application, even with big businesses like Amazon.
The GTIN family includes several well-known GS1 standards, such as UPC and EAN, each distinguished by the number of digits.
8-Digit Numbers
An 8-digit GTIN, also known as GTIN-8, is a unique product identifier used for small-sized products. Primarily used outside of North America, it is intended for point-of-sale items.
12-Digit Numbers
Commonly known as UPC (Universal Product Code), a 12-digit GTIN is widely used in North America for product identification and retail transactions.
13-Digit Numbers (EAN-13)
The EAN-13 is a 13-digit GTIN used globally for product identification. It is similar to the UPC but is more widely adopted outside of North America.
14-Digit Numbers (UPC)
The GTIN-14 is often referred to as a UPC (Universal Product Code). Recognised globally and primarily used to identify trade groupings of products like packs or cases, it is not intended for point-of-sale.
Consisting of three separate components the GTIN number works within the family of GS1 global standards.
Company Prefix
GTIN number begins with a GS1 licensed Company Prefix. The same prefix that is used in a GLN. Once assigned it does not change and all of your GTIN numbers will start with it.
Item Reference Number
The second component of the GTIN is the Item Reference Number that identifies each specific product. It follows the Company Prefix and depending on your needs or regional requirements you may create a GTIN-8, GTIN-13, GTIN-12, or GTIN-14 to uniquely identify your product.
Check Digits
All GTIN numbers end with a final single-digit check number.
The Company Prefix and Item Reference Number are linked using a specific GS1 table to create a final check digit that ensures the accuracy of the GTIN.
The GTIN number’s authentic way of providing unique product identification means that any product or service that is priced, ordered, or invoiced anywhere in the supply chain meets the demand logistics for all trading partners; it promotes excellent order accuracy, supply chain visibility and inventory management at the local and global levels.
Packaging levels
GTINs are used to identify products at all packaging levels throughout the supply chain ranging from pallets of goods and cases to inner packs and consumer units. The GTIN-14 is dedicated to non-consumer packaging levels, whereas GTIN-12 (UPC) and GTIN-13 (EAN-13) are commonly used for identifying individual consumer units.
Trade items
The term trade item refers to any product or service that is priced, ordered, or invoiced at any point in the supply chain to which a GTIN is assigned. Once designated it gives trading partners and businesses a common language that can be used to share information about an item.
Much of the complexity with GTINs lies in understanding its associated terms and EAN is no different. Technically, EAN refers to the European Article Number, which is one of the GTIN formats, the GTIN-13. What can be confusing is the usage of the term EAN-13, which outside of North America, is used frequently as a synonym for GTIN-13. However, they are the same thing.
In the realm of GTIN-associated listing creation, the tantalising question persists: Can AI fashion a superior listing compared to your craftsmanship? While quantifying the precise superiority of AI in this domain might prove elusive, the overarching influence of AI on e-commerce resonates profoundly. As per Gartner's Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends, by 2026, more than 80% of enterprises will have used generative AI APIs, or deployed AI-enabled applications, hinting at an escalating reliance on AI across diverse facets of online trade.
To fully capitalize on the advantages of GTINs, businesses must also consider their integration with key global standards and frameworks that facilitate seamless trade and information exchange:
- PEPPOL: This network streamlines the electronic exchange of various business documents, including e-invoices, across borders and systems. Understanding how GTINs enhance the PEPPOL framework reveals the importance of standardized product identifiers in cross-border e-commerce.
- Global Location Number (GLN): GLNs are crucial for identifying parties and locations in the supply chain, complementing GTINs by ensuring products and their origins are precisely tracked. This highlights the interconnected role of GLNs and GTINs in supply chain visibility.
- Global Data Synchronisation Network (GDSN): GDSN relies on GTINs for the accurate synchronization of product data across trading partners, emphasizing the critical role of standardized identifiers in maintaining data consistency and reliability.
Studies showing year-on-year billion-dollar savings in the grocery industry thanks to the use of GTIN codes, highlight in just this one sector the cruciality of supply chain optimisation in driving global profits and efficient global commerce.
Knowing what’s what in the world of GS1 standards and the GTIN family is essential in keeping pace with the fast-changing space of global trade and the technical solutions that enable its growth and ever-improving customer satisfaction.