| Q. | What is GS1 US BarCodes and eCom and what does it do? |
| A. | GS1 US BarCodes and eCom is the U.S. implementation organization for the GS1 System (formerly the EAN.UCC System). The organization supports implementation of standardized identification numbers for use in bar codes and e-commerce messaging standards such as Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Business Message Standards using Extensible Markup Language (XML).
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| Q. | What products and services does the GS1 US BarCodes and eCom Group provide? |
| A. | GS1 US BarCodes and eCom is involved in standards establishment, maintenance and implementation services, representation in industry-related projects, advancement of supply chain solutions, and industry education.
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| Q. | What is the history of GS1 US BarCodes and eCom and the GS1 System? |
| A. | In 1971, the first U.P.C. bar code was scanned, changing the way the grocery industry conducted business. Since then, the standards behind the bar code have grown into the global GS1 System, used by more than one million companies doing business in over 140 countries across 23 industries.
The GS1 System was originally called the EAN.UCC System, and was co-managed by EAN International and the Uniform Code Council. The Uniform Code Council is now GS1 US, a member organization of GS1, previously EAN International. The GS1 System now represents a single, unified, global standard.
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| Q. | What is a bar code? Does GS1 US BarCodes and eCom provide bar codes? |
| A. | A bar code symbol, such as the U.P.C., consists of patterns of black vertical bars with white spaces and numbers at the bottom of the symbol. Together these bars make up the symbology of the code. The thickness of the bars and the distance between them define the numbers contained in the bar code. A set of two black bars appear at the beginning, middle and end of the symbology and are called guard patterns. These patterns provide start and stop signals to tell a scanner where it is reading within the code.
• The GS1 Company Prefix is a globally unique, seven- to eleven-digit number licensed to a company/organization by GS1 US. Company Prefixes vary in length to meet the needs of our members. The GS1 Company Prefix is used as a foundation to create the identification numbers of the GS1 System. The GS1 Company Prefix is what makes the identification numbers of the GS1 System unique.
• The Legal Entity GLN is automatically assigned to identify a company/organization by GS1 US. A Global Location Number (GLN) identifies legal entities (such as a company/organization, subsidiary, or division), functional entities (such as accounting departments or return departments), and physical locations (such as a store, hospital, or warehouse).
• The U.P.C. Company Prefix is provided to support the creation of U.P.C. bar codes. A U.P.C. Company Prefix is a special representation of the assigned GS1 Company Prefix. The U.P.C. Company Prefix is created by removing the leading "0" digit from the GS1 Company Prefix. Only companies/organizations assigned GS1 Company Prefixes beginning with a "0" may create U.P.C.'s.
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NOTE: The length of U.P.C. Company Prefixes can vary from six to ten digits in length. The prefix shown above is for example only.
U.S. organizations that need a bar code must join Partner Connections from GS1 US. Along with the Company Prefix, you will also receive the Data Driver™ tool for defining and managing bar codes. While each company is responsible for allocating a unique number to each product and printing their own bar codes, Data Driver automates the process and ensures bar code quality and accuracy.
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| Q. | What is a GTIN®? |
| A. | GTIN stands for Global Trade Item Number®. The GTIN is the globally unique GS1 identification number used to identify trade items (products and services) that are sold, delivered, warehoused, and invoiced.
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| Q. | What is Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)? |
| A. | EDI is the exchange of business information between computers with little or no human intervention.
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| Q. | How are GS1 System standards developed? |
| A. | GS1 created the Global Standards Management Process (GSMP) to support standards development activity for the GS1 System. The GSMP was developed to maintain standards-based solutions for global trade using GS1 System technologies. The GSMP uses a global consensus process to develop supply chain standards that are based on business needs and user-input.
The objective of the GSMP is to bring together users from all industries, from anywhere in the world, to allow for a uniform approach and methodology for global standards management. This includes but is not limited to standards development, standards maintenance, and implementation support.
The GSMP is built on these core activities:
1. Identify and assess business needs
2. Gather business requirements
3. Document best practices
4. Gain solution consensus
5. Develop and implement standards
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| Q. | What is the cost of subscribing to the GS1 System? |
| A. | The fee is determined by the number of unique products a company needs to identify and as well as gross sales revenue.
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| Q. | What is Partner Connections? |
| A. | Companies that join GS1 US BarCodes and eCom become members of Partner Connections and gain access to tools and services to help drive efficiency in their supply chain. Benefits include Data Driver™ for defining and managing bar codes, access to the Solutions Center, free online education, essential business information, access to toll-free, priority assistance, and discounts on GS1 US events, products, and services.
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| Q. | How is the GS1 System related to data synchronization and the Electronic Product Code? |
| A. | The GS1 System provides the standards for globally unique physical identification (such as products, shipping containers/cartons, assets, and locations) and the electronic communication of that information (such as purchase orders and shipping notices). Data synchronization and Electronic Product Code (EPC) technology use these same standards to identify both the item, asset, or container and the physical locations as it moves through the supply chain.
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