GS1 Barcodes: Cost, Compliance & How They Power Modern Supply Chains

GS1 Barcodes: Cost, Compliance & How They Power Modern Supply ChainsWhat Are GS1 Barcodes and Why Do They Matter?

GS1 barcodes are globally standardized codes that uniquely identify products, cases, or pallets across the supply chain. Each GS1 barcode contains a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), which ensures your product is traceable and recognized by major retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart.

GS1 barcodes are essential for retail, eCommerce, and logistics—powering automation, inventory accuracy, and product authenticity across global supply chains.

How GS1 US Powers GS1 Barcodes and Global Standards

Gs1 US is the official body that assigns unique Company Prefixes in the United States. These prefixes form the base of your GS1 barcode numbers. GS1 US also maintains the standards used for:

• UPC for retail products
• GS1-128 (formerly UCC-128) for shipping containers
• QR and DataMatrix codes for healthcare and logistics

GS1 Barcodes vs UPC Codes: What’s the Difference?

GS1 is the organization that defines barcode standards. UPC is just one type of barcode issued under GS1 rules. All valid UPCs are GS1-compliant, but not all GS1 barcodes are UPCs.

If you’re selling internationally or managing shipments and inventory in bulk, you’ll often use other GS1 formats like GS1-128 or ITF-14.

How Many GS1 Barcodes Do You Need for Your Products?

You need a unique GS1 barcode for each:

• Product variation (color, size, style)
• Pack size or bundle (e.g., 1-pack, 3-pack, 12-pack)
• Case or pallet shipping unit

For example, if you sell 3 colors of a t-shirt in 4 sizes, you need 12 GS1 barcodes. And if you ship cases, you’ll also need GS1-128 labels with unique SSCCs.

How ActionEDI Automates GS1-128 Barcode Labels for You

Manually generating GS1 labels can lead to errors, delays, and compliance issues. That’s where ActionEDI comes in:

• About the Author

  Achieve Full Edi Compliance in Days, Not Weeks, with ActionEdi. it easier and more cost-effective to do business with your trading partners. https://www.actionedi.com/

  Rate this Article