What Is GTIN? Definition, Uses, and More

Ever wonder how your online orders magically appear at your door despite all the hurdles they face? The answer is GTIN, a special number that tracks products throughout their journey.

GTIN, given by GS1, helps sellers and shippers identify items accurately. If you sell and advertise on e-commerce and marketing platforms, having a GTIN is crucial for global sales and happy customers.

With a GTIN, you can sell your products globally and improve your customer experiences.

In this blog, we’ll explore GTINs, why they matter, and how to effectively implement them for optimal product tracking and sales. Read on!

Understanding GTIN

A GTIN is a GS1 identification key or unique number assigned to a trade item. This number acts like your social security key, ensuring no two items have the same identity. 

This unique code helps you in multiple aspects of managing a supply chain, including:

• Inventory Control: GTINs enable businesses to accurately track product stock levels across warehouses and distribution centers. This optimizes inventory management and minimizes stockouts.
• Product Traceability: In case of product recalls or safety concerns, GTINs allow for accurately identifying and tracking specific product batches. This ensures improved traceability and allows your business to trace any items easily.
• Improved Efficiency: Streamlined product identification through GTINs facilitates faster and more accurate order processing, shipment handling, and receiving at warehouses and stores.

GTIN Formats and Structures

Here are four GTIN formats that are popularly in use:

1. GTIN-8: These are mainly used for identifying returnable containers and exchanging items with a short life cycle. You’ll often find these on reusable crates or shipping pallets.
2. GTIN-12 (UPC-A): This 12-digit format is mainly used in North America. It’s the familiar barcode you see on most retail products in the US and Canada.
3. GTIN-13 (EAN-13): The 13-digit GTIN-13, known as the European Article Number (EAN), dominates markets outside North America. It serves the same purpose as UPC-A but with an additional digit for wider global applicability.
4. GTIN-14: This 14-digit format offers the most comprehensive product identification number. It is used to identify trade item groupings or shipping and is NOT intended for point-of-sale use.

GTINs are also popular since they integrate well with existing standards, such as  ISBN (books), ISSN (serials), and ISMN (musical scores). This ensures products already identified by these standards automatically receive a corresponding GTIN, eliminating the need for duplicate identification efforts.

Note: Keep in mind the GTIN vs UPC distinction. While both are product identifiers, they are often confused to be the same, when in fact they serve different roles.

The Composition of GTINs

Now that we’ve explored the different formats, let’s delve deeper into the anatomy of a GTIN. Each GTIN comprises three key elements that contribute to its uniqueness and integrity:

1.  Company Prefix

This unique identifier assigned by GS1 distinguishes your company from others. It acts like an area code for your products, ensuring no other company can utilize the same prefix in their GTINs.

2.  Item Reference

This portion of the GTIN identifies a specific product within your company’s catalog. You assign this number to differentiate your products, allowing you to track and manage them individually.

3.  Check Digit

This final digit is mathematically calculated based on the company prefix and item reference. It serves as a verification tool, ensuring the accuracy of the entire GTIN. Any errors in data entry will result in an invalid check digit, alerting you to potential mistakes.

GTIN vs. Barcodes

While GTINs and barcodes are often used interchangeably, it’s crucial to understand the distinction between them. Here’s what separates them:
In simpler terms, GTIN is the data itself, while the barcode is the image that carries that data. Several barcode symbologies, each with specific characteristics, are associated with GTINs. Here are two common examples:

• EAN-13: This barcode symbology represents the visual representation of a GTIN-13 number. It is widely used on products sold outside North America.
• UPC-A: This symbology encodes a GTIN-12 number and is the familiar barcode you see on most retail products in the US and Canada.

Applications and Uses of GTIN

Given their ability to identify a product quickly, GTINs are used for supply chain and logistic processes, including:

• Retail: GTINs facilitate efficient product ordering, receiving, stocking, and inventory management for retailers. They also enable faster checkout experiences through accurate product identification at the point of sale.
• Healthcare: In the healthcare sector, GTINs ensure accurate medication tracking, streamline inventory control, and prevent potential medication errors.
• Online Selling: GTINs are essential for e-commerce platforms like Amazon, eBay, Shopify, etc. They enable accurate product listings, improve search engine optimization by providing unique product identifiers, and streamline order fulfillment.

How to Obtain and Implement GTINs?

GTINs are available on most brand-name products; you can find them on the product’s packaging or cover. So, if you are an online store selling brand products, you can usually go ahead with the GTINs or product identifiers mentioned by the brand.

You can contact the product’s manufacturer or supplier if the GTIN is unavailable. They should be able to provide you with the existing MPN (Manufacturer Part Number), which often corresponds to the GTIN.

If you plan to manufacture and distribute your own products, GTIN is crucial for inventory tracking and sales.

To get a GTIN number, you need to follow the steps mentioned below:

1. Reach out to a local GS1 member organization. You can find them at:  https://www.gs1.org/. This will help you secure a GS1 Company Prefix, part of your GTIN product catalog.
2. Once you have your Company Prefix, you can assign GTINs to each product in your catalog. GS1 offers various options for acquiring GTINs, including purchasing them in bulk or subscribing to a service that generates them on demand.

Once you get your GTIN, make sure to follow industry best practices to ensure that there are no lapses or errors. Some of these practices include:

• Maintaining accurate product data, such as product descriptions and specifications. This promotes transparency and facilitates efficient product management.
• Develop a clear internal process for assigning and managing GTINs within your company. This will ensure consistency and reduce the risk of errors.
• Integrate GTIN data with your inventory management systems, e-commerce platforms, and other relevant software to streamline product tracking and data flow throughout your business.

By following these steps and best practices, you can effectively implement GTINs and explore their full potential for your business.

GTIN’s Impact on E-commerce and Digital Marketing

GTIN is immensely important for online sellers utilizing platforms such as Shopify and Google Merchant Center.

Here’s why:

1.  Unique Identification

GTINs serve as distinctive markers for your products across various online marketplaces like Amazon or eBay. They ensure precise product information reaches potential customers by eradicating confusion stemming from duplicate listings.

2.  Enhanced SEO

GTINs play a crucial role in SEO listing strategies, as search engines like Google prioritize items enriched with comprehensive data such as GTINs. Incorporating accurate GTINs and product details can bolster your online visibility and improve search engine rankings.

3.  Trust and Confidence

Providing precise and detailed product information associated with GTINs instills trust and confidence in potential customers. This heightened trust can translate into increased conversion rates and enhanced customer acquisition for your online store.

Final Words

With GTIN, you can easily manage your online inventory and improve your overall customer experience. However, continuously managing GTIN errors or action items can often be challenging.

Regularly audit and update your GTIN data to ensure accuracy and compliance with industry standards. Additionally, consider investing in tools and product feed management software solutions that help you automate GTIN management processes and provide real-time monitoring and alerts for any issues.

Remember that GTINs are not just about compliance; they are a powerful tool for enhancing your online visibility and improving search engine rankings in the long run. You can differentiate your products in the crowded online marketplace by providing accurate and detailed product information associated with GTINs and driving higher conversion rates.

FAQs

1. What is a GTIN?

A GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) is a unique identifier assigned to a trade item: a physical product you sell or a service you offer. It’s like a barcode for your product information, ensuring it can be accurately identified and tracked throughout the supply chain.

2. Why are most GTINs 14 digits?

While GTINs can come in various formats (8, 12, 13, and 14 digits), GTIN-14 is becoming increasingly popular. It offers the most detailed product identification, including the base product information (like GTIN-12/13) and an indicator digit to specify different packaging levels within a product hierarchy.

3. How do I get a GTIN?

Most brand products already have GTINs or unique identifiers, which the reseller can use. However, obtaining a GTIN is crucial for managing manufacturing and distribution.

To obtain a GTIN, you’ll need a GS1 Company Prefix. This unique identifier distinguishes your company from others in the GS1 system. You can acquire a prefix by contacting your local GS1 member organization (https://www.gs1.org/). Once you have a prefix, you can assign GTINs to your products through GS1 or authorized partners.

4. Who is GS1, and how are they involved?

GS1 is a global organization that establishes and maintains standards for supply chain management, including GTINs. It ensures consistent and accurate product identification practices across countries and industries.

5. What is the difference between a UPC Company Prefix and a GS1 Company Prefix?

UPC Company Prefixes were previously used for UPC-A barcodes (GTIN-12) in North America.

However, a GS1 Company Prefix offers a broader scope and can be used for all GTIN formats, including UPC-A and internationally.

6. Do companies need to use EANs for products sold outside the US and UPCs within it?

EAN (European Article Number) and UPC (Universal Product Code) are different barcode symbols representing GTINs.

EAN-13 (13-digit GTIN) is commonly used outside North America, while UPC-A (12-digit GTIN) is used in the US and Canada. ITF-14 is a 14-digit code located below the barcode and is mostly found on products sold in multipacks, such as shopping boxes.

Since there are no strict guidelines around this, the choice depends on the regional requirements and the specific GTIN format.

7. How do companies get UPC barcodes on their products?

Once you have a GS1 Company Prefix and GTINs assigned to your products, you can acquire UPC barcode symbology licenses from GS1 or authorized partners. These licenses allow you to generate and print UPC-A barcodes for your products.

8. What is a GS1 Company Prefix?

A GS1 Company Prefix is a unique identifier assigned by GS1 to your company. It acts like an area code for your products in the GTIN system, ensuring no other company uses the same prefix in their GTINs.

9. Why should I get a Company Prefix from GS1 US?

While some regions might have separate GS1 organizations, obtaining a prefix from GS1 US grants you a globally recognized identifier usable for all GTIN formats. This simplifies product identification and management if you plan to sell internationally.

10. Can I get GTINs without licensing a GS1 Company Prefix?

No. A GS1 Company Prefix is a prerequisite for obtaining GTINs. It establishes your unique identity within the GS1 system and allows you to assign GTINs to your products.

11. What happens if I run out of numbers?

The GS1 number range is sufficient for most business purposes. However, if you anticipate a high volume, you can discuss obtaining additional prefix numbers with your local GS1 member organization.