In 1996, GS1 India was established to help businesses implement a standardised and structured approach to supplying products in the market. This standardisation has since become a cornerstone of a transparent and interoperable supply chain. Indian manufacturers are now exporting products across the globe and are leveraging GS1 standards to track the end-to-end journey of their shipments. These standards have become a global benchmark in barcode generation which ultimately is imperative in the unique identification of each product being supplied in the market. This blog will help readers understand the critical need for GS1 standards in barcode generation. It will also illuminate the benefits, barcode generation process, and role of GS1 standards in shaping modern trade.
GS1 – an international not-for-profit organisation which governs GS1 India and 115 other member organisations, defines GS1 standards as a set of rules or guidelines that help businesses in ‘uniquely identifying’, ‘accurately capturing’ and ‘automatically sharing’ information about products, assets, locations and more, in any country and with any trading partner.
These standards are developed to increase the process efficiency of businesses and provide them with an automated structure, facilitating unique identification of products and sharing electronic product information, globally. The GS1 system of standards is influenced by factors like broad acceptability, maximum applicability across various business scenarios and adherence by all parties. The standards are created to be mutually beneficial for both manufacturers and the end-consumers and hence benefit every element of the supply chain. Find below the three pillars of GS1 standards –
GS1 standards play an indispensable role in the barcode generation process as they create a common trade language for businesses by uniquely identifying, capturing and sharing important information on the products. Due to their wide acceptability, they foster trust and dependability in the internal and external organisational workings.
Find below the purpose of implementing GS1 standards in your processes –
Global Interoperability – GS1 standards are the root of facilitating interoperability – the ability of systems and software to share and use information. They provide businesses with a standardised or common method of exchanging data.
Unique Identification – Products with GS1 barcodes are uniquely identified in the market. They are different from every other type of product already available in the market which benefits marketplaces, retailers, manufacturers, and consumers. Every product variant is assigned a distinct Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) which strengthens trust between different parties by providing detailed and accurate product information.
Building Greater Confidence – When businesses build products and services around standards, they will have greater confidence in their outputs. Eventually, such businesses will be able to garner trust and recognition among consumers, marketplaces and trading partners in the long run.
Cost-effective Solutions – Businesses that have a standardised approach to supplying products in the market, benefit from reduced operational costs and implementation effort. They do not have to create a tailored approach for every partner they deal with, enabling them to easily exchange data electronically with all trading partners in a structured manner.
Mutually Beneficial Solutions – These standards are mutually beneficial to everyone, even if the trading partners are not directly involved or are indirectly linked by a mediator. The GS1 barcodes can be scanned by all of them and information can be accessed by different partners or consumers using scanners or mobile phones.
Below mentioned are some of the benefits businesses enjoy once they get registered for GS1 barcodes –
GS1 India is the only authority in India which is authorised to issue barcodes to companies manufacturing products in India. Barcodes starting with ‘890’ are the only interoperable and standardised barcodes in India. Every GS1 member organisation has a separate country code and ‘890’ is the country code of India. Companies who wish to sell products in India need to obtain these authorised barcodes.
Find below the steps to apply for GS1 Barcodes –
Step 1: Visit the ‘Register for Barcodes’ page on GS1 India’s website.
Step 2: Enter your business email or PAN card details where asked.
Step 3: A form will open, complete the form and submit documents as and when asked.
Step 4: In the form, you will be asked to select your subscription model. GS1 India has subscription models for barcodes ranging from 100 to 100000. Please note that the subscription model once selected cannot be changed, to switch companies will have to purchase a new barcode license. It is therefore advised that businesses consider their current and future requirements before they make any purchase.
Step 5: Once you have completed the form, review all the details once and then click submit. After this, you will be asked to pay one-time registration fees and subscription fees.
Step 6: Within 7-10 working days you will receive an allotment letter and your Global Company Prefix (GCP) which can be used to generate GTINs for your products.
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