What is the GS1 system

GS1 system, known as GS1 Unified Global Identification System, is the most widely used supply chain standard and business language in the field of global commercial circulation. GS1 system provides the unique global coding and identification for different levels of trade items, products and services, logistics units, assets, locations, documents and other special areas in the supply chain. At the same time, it provides technical standards and information sharing technical support for inter-industry information interaction and process integration.

This system is composed of three parts: coding system, data carrier system and data exchange system. It is also used in Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), XML electronic message, Global Data Synchronization (GDSN) and GS1 network system. The GS1 General Specification provides syntax, assignment, and Automatic Data acquisition (ADC) standards for GS1 identity codes. In addition to providing a globally unique identification code, the GS1 system also provides additional information through application identifiers (AI), such as shelf life, series and batch numbers, which can be represented in the form of bar codes, QR codes, RF tags, etc.

In order to adapt to the in-depth development of global trade integration and meet the needs of information interconnection and sharing among supply chain trading partners, GS1 system keeps innovating in the development, management, application and promotion of standard technical solutions. And through the Global Standards Management Process (GSMP), the GS1 General Specification and other standards are continuously revised and updated. At the same time, China's localization and application of GS1 system also closely follow the international development trend, and continuously promote the application of GS1 standard in various industries from the breadth and depth, so as to better serve the national economic and social development, and achieve good application results.

After more than 40 years of development, GS1 system has been widely used in all walks of life in more than 150 countries and regions. Whether it is supermarkets, warehouses, logistics transportation, or hospitals, schools, government agencies; Whether clothing, food, medical and health, or books, office supplies, chemical building materials; The GS1 system can be found everywhere in online transactions, mobile payments, industrial manufacturing, military and national defense, and agricultural production. Moreover, with the development of information technology, the application of GS1 system will be more extensive.