GTIN
Colloquially, many know GTIN as a barcode, but technically, GTIN is the number found beneath the barcode symbol itself, and can therefore also be used for other technologies such as 2D barcodes and RFID tags.
Colloquially, many know GTIN as a barcode, but technically, GTIN is the number found beneath the barcode symbol itself, and can therefore also be used for other technologies such as 2D barcodes and RFID tags.
For many years, the traditional 1D barcode has been the workhorse of the retail industry. It has enabled products to be identified quickly and efficiently at checkout—but future demands for product data, traceability, and transparency require more information than the classic barcode can hold on its own.
This is precisely why 2D barcodes are becoming a central part of the digital evolution in retail and the supply chain. And there are strong indications that upcoming EU legislation will significantly accelerate this development.
In recent years, the EU has been working purposefully to create greater sustainability, transparency, and traceability across products and value chains. This is being achieved through initiatives such as:
What these regulations have in common is that companies must increasingly be able to update and share digital product data—with authorities, partners, and consumers alike.
This could, for example, include information about:
This is where the connection between the physical product and digital data becomes crucial.
While a traditional 1D barcode primarily contains a product number, a 2D barcode can hold far more information – and serve as an intelligent gateway to digital data online.
This is especially true for the GS1 standard for 2D barcodes using GS1 Digital Link.
With GS1 Digital Link, a single 2D barcode can:
This means that companies do not necessarily need to develop entirely new systems to meet upcoming requirements. Instead, they can use the 2D barcode as a common digital key to product data.
This flexibility is precisely one of the great strengths of 2D.
For example, the same code can:
This makes the 2D barcode far more than just a new type of barcode. It becomes a digital infrastructure between products and data.
For many companies, the work with 2D starts as a way to prepare for upcoming requirements. However, many quickly discover that the technology also creates new opportunities.
Better product data can, among other things, strengthen:
At the same time, standardized solutions like GS1 Digital Link allow companies to work in a more scalable and future-proof way.
The transition from 1D to 2D is therefore not just about new barcodes. It is about digitizing products and creating a stronger connection between physical goods and the data demanded by the market and legislation of the future.
And here, 2D barcodes can be the helping hand that makes complex requirements more manageable in practice.
For companies that are already beginning the journey toward 2D, it is not just about being ready for future legislation—but also about being ready for the future of trade.
GS1Trade Image provides professional marketing and planogram images that meet retailers' requirements and imaging guidelines.
If you want to create your own product photos, we can also help you get certified.
GS1Trade Sync is a data pool for product data exchange that your trading partners can access.
GS1Trade Sync streamlines data exchange between trading partners because data only needs to be entered in one place. This increases the quality of product data and creates value for you - and the entire value chain.
GS1Trade Packaging is a packaging data system that gathers your packaging data in one place. The system ensures efficient collection, structuring, and declaration of packaging data, and makes it easy to exchange packaging data with other companies.
GS1Trade Exact ensures the quality of your product data. All physical products are checked against the data registered in GS1Trade Sync.
With this service, you get verified and quality-assured data that benefits the entire supply chain.
GS1Trade Transact handles the digital receipt of orders and the sending of documents to your customers. You can choose whether to integrate it with your financial system or access it online.
GTIN (also known as EAN) stands for “Global Trade Item Number” and is the number sequence shown beneath a barcode symbol.
GTIN (EAN) is a global standard used to uniquely identify digital and physical products, allowing the barcode to be scanned anywhere in the world throughout the supply chain.
A GLN (also known as EAN) allows you to uniquely identify physical, functional, legal, or digital entities. This can include the sender, receiver, buyer, seller, supplier, manufacturer, delivery location, billing location, store, or internal departments.
