Serializing Products - Aligning Proprietary Serialization with Global Open Standards

Many companies are not familiar with how to use the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN). Even for smaller companies who have their own serialization practices, it is still good to know how GTIN does it so that proprietary serialization approaches can be subsequently matched onto GTINs when business grows.

Always try to get the company prefix with the lowest number of numbers possible. It can range from 4 to 6 digits. As GTIN (whether EAN 13 or UPC 12) has limited digits, try to use just 4 digits for company prefix so that you can have the rest for your product type, colour, size, etc.. identification. You can use '1' or '2' to differentiate between products or '10' and '20', just in case you have new in-between products.

Your GTIN can be for the smallest packing possible, and subsequent packing (or SKU) to use another GTIN.

The GTIN can be associated with various product characteristics in your database.














Consider layering the ITF-14 Data Structure if you can't embedded it in GTIN. Add 1 to 8 in front of GTIN to differentiate packaging and aggregation (item, case, carton, pallet) layers.

Approach to adding in packaging levels in front of GTIN using ITF-14 standard.

Examples of application of ITF-14 on different packaging units below.

Spcficiations for bar code type, size, placement and quality all depends on where the bar code will be scanned. it could be at Retail point-of-sale, distribution, marking and repackaging locations.

Below is an approach to selecting the right serialization and bar code standard.

Remember to update GS1 your production sites too, so that they can relate the Global Location Number (GLN) to your GTINs for traceability.

Now that you have your GTINs (or even GLN, ITF-14s) in place, you can then track these products along your supply chain. Tracking and tracing allows you to measure and improve your supply chain performance.