GLN/EAN

A trading relationship typically involves multiple organisations, such as a supplier, a customer, and a distribution centre. In addition, several departments within each organisation may be involved. Trading partners therefore need to be able to accurately identify all the physical and digital locations, as well as the functions relevant to the trading relationship, within their data exchanges. GLN (Global Location Number) is used for this purpose.

Each function that needs to be distinguished from other functions should be assigned its own 13-digit GLN. GLNs are typically used in trading relationships where the parties exchange standardised electronic business messages, such as EANCOM and GS1 XML. A GLN also identifies your organisation when using GS1 Denmark's services GS1Trade Sync and GS1Trade Transact.

A GLN is globally unique and can be used across industries and national borders.

The organisation using a GLN is responsible for informing its trading partners about the GLNs it uses and the information associated with each one. This may include the organisation's name, address, telephone number, email address, and other relevant contact details. Information associated with a location or function should be maintained in an IT system, where the GLN serves as the key to that information.

If, for example, the location of a physical site changes but the associated information is not updated, deliveries may continue to be sent to the previous address. It is therefore important to notify trading partners as soon as possible whenever a new GLN is introduced or information associated with an existing GLN is changed.

Please note that different GLN Allocation Rules apply depending on whether the GLN identifies a legal entity, a functional location, a physical location, or a digital location.

View the GLN Allocation Rules.

If you want to use your GLN in the Danish NemHandel e-invoicing network, it must be registered in NemHandel. Your electronic invoicing service provider can assist you with this.

A GLN can also be encoded in a GS1-128 barcode.

Several Application Identifiers (AIs) are defined for identifying trading partners. For example:

• Ship to (AI 410)
• Bill to (AI 411)
• Purchased from (AI 412)

A GLN always consists of 13 digits. GLNs issued by GS1 Denmark begin with the prefix 579.

The location is sold

If a company sells a location to another company, the GLNs associated with the previous owner's location should be discontinued. If the new owner wishes to identify the location with a GLN, a new GLN must be assigned.

The location moves

If a company relocates a function to a new address, it may either continue using the existing GLN at the new address or assign a new GLN. One reason for assigning a new GLN is to preserve historical information in the IT system that relates to the previous address, making it possible to distinguish between data associated with the old and new locations.

The function of the location changes

If the function identified by a GLN changes, the responsible organisation should update the information associated with that GLN in its IT system. For example, this could apply if a receiving location is converted into a warehouse.

Reuse of a GLN

A discontinued GLN must not be reused for at least five years. During this period, all information associated with the discontinued GLN should be removed from the IT systems of trading partners.