A unique and internationally recognized identifier for products. Developed by GS1, GTIN plays a crucial role in the global supply chain, enabling the efficient and standardized identification of products. It is used to identify items for sale, both products and services, in a consistent way, particularly in the context of barcodes used in retail.
Key aspects of GTIN include:
- Standardization: GTINs follow a standardized format, making them universally recognizable and usable across global markets and industries.
- Variants of GTIN: It includes several formats, such as GTIN-8, GTIN-12 (UPC), GTIN-13 (EAN), and GTIN-14. The length depends on the product type and where it will be sold.
- Integration in Barcodes: GTINs are typically encoded within barcodes (like UPCs or EANs) on product packaging, allowing for electronic scanning and tracking.
- Product Identification: GTINs uniquely identify products at various packaging levels (item, case, or pallet), aiding in inventory management, stocking, and checkout processes.
- Supply Chain Efficiency: They enhance the efficiency of supply chains by enabling more accurate ordering, billing, and shipping processes.
- Global Traceability and Visibility: GTINs facilitate global traceability of products, which is essential for logistics, recall management, and consumer information.
- E-commerce and Online Sales: They are also crucial in online retail environments, helping to manage product listings and ensuring accurate product information.
GTINs are integral to modern retail and supply chain management, providing a universal product identification and tracking method, and enhancing efficiency and accuracy across various business processes.
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