GS1 Identification Keys

GS1 ID Keys give companies efficient ways to access information about items in their supply chains, and share this information with trading partners.

ID Keys enable organisations to assign standard identifiers to products, documents, physical locations and more.

Because GS1 ID keys are globally unique, they can be shared between organisations, increasing supply chain visibility for trading partners.

To build a GS1 ID key, your organisation must become a member of GS1 and obtain a GS1 company prefix. This will form the basis of your ID keys.

There are 12 GS1 ID keys, allowing organisations to connect physical events and related information, as in the table below.

 

ID Key

Used to Identify

Example

Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)

Products and services

Can of soup, chocolate bar, music album

Global Location Number (GLN)

Parties and locations

Companies, warehouses, factories, stores

Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC)

Logistics units

Unit loads on pallets, roll cages, parcels

Global Returnable Asset Identifier (GRAI)

Returnable assets

Pallet cases, crates, totes

Global Individual Asset Identifier (GIAI)

Assets

Medical, manufacturing, transport and IT equipment

Global Service Relation Number (GSRN)

Service provider and recipient relationships

Loyalty scheme members, doctors at a hospital, library members

Global Document Type Identifier (GDTI)

Documents

Tax demands, shipment forms, driving licences

Global Identification Number for Consignment (GINC)

Consignments

Logistics units transported together in an ocean container

Global Shipment Identification Number (GSIN)

Shipments

Logistics units delivered to a customer together

Global Coupon Number (GCN)

Coupons

Digital coupons

Component/Part Identifier (CPID)

Components and parts

Automobile parts

Global Model Number (GMN)

Product model

Medical devices