Every second, billions of products are bought and sold in the global marketplace. You might have purchased a few today yourself, perhaps a loaf of bread, a carton of milk, or a jar of jam. But did you know they travel an extensive journey before finally reaching you? The process isn’t simple, especially when you consider that most products come in various sizes, flavours, colours, and compositions. Take chocolate, for example. It’s available in different sizes, types, and packaging - and the same holds true for almost every product you can think of. How do systems instantly recognize every unique product and speed up supply? The answer is the GTIN: a unique code that lets businesses and systems identify, track, and sell products efficiently. In this blog, we’ll cover what GTIN is, how it works, its types, and why it matters.
The full form of GTIN is Global Trade Item Number. GTIN is a globally unique identifier assigned to every SKU (or individual product) sold worldwide. It is composed of 8, 12, 13, and 14 digits. If you are a business owner who manufactures/sells products, it goes without saying that you will know about GTIN. In business language, similar to how a GSTIN (GST Identification Number) is a unique number assigned to your GST-registered business, a GTIN is assigned to products you wish to sell. This means not only does your business have a separate legal identity, but your product does too.
GTIN can be obtained for ‘n’ number of products and their types. From electronics, home decor, to daily-use products/ration items, every unit carries a GTIN. GS1, headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, is the body that is responsible for the rules concerning its management and usage. It has 120 member organisations across more than 150 countries, which provide GTIN to businesses operating there. Here are a few points you should note if you are an Indian business owner -
Did you know GTINs are not the only thing used for product identification? That’s true — a GTIN doesn’t work on its own; it needs a barcode. A barcode is the visual form of the GTIN, made of black and white lines that machines can read. When you see products being scanned at a supermarket, it’s the barcode that makes this quick and automatic. Without it, the cashier would have to enter details manually. So, while the GTIN is the product’s unique number, the barcode is the carrier that makes that number scannable. Both work together to identify products accurately.
The four types of GTINs - GTIN-8, GTIN-12, GTIN-13, and GTIN-14 serve different purposes. In this section we will explore them with every key detail.
GTIN-13: GTIN-13 or EAN-13 is composed of 13 digits. It is a unique string of four essential components - country code, company code, item reference number, and check digit. ‘890’ is the country code of India and every GTIN provided by GS1 India begins with ‘890’. Country Code and Company Code together form the GCP, GS1 Company Prefix, of an enterprise. A company can use its GCP to generate GTINs for its SKUs/products through the DataKart portal. Read this blog to know more - “A Guide to GS1 DataKart: Features and Benefits to Businesses”.
GTIN-8: GS1-8/GTIN-8 is composed of 8-digits and is a unique string of three essential components - the country code, item reference number/product code, and the check digit. Its smaller size makes it compatible for smaller products such as, chocolates, cosmetics, battery cells, and more.
GTIN-12: GTIN-12 is a 12-digit GTIN and is encoded in a UPC-A barcode. It is primarily used in North America and is provided by GS1 US. UPC is a barcode symbology similar to EAN (European Article Number).
GTIN-14: GTIN-14 is a 14-digit GTIN and is used to identify trade item groupings or higher packaging units. Some examples of these groupings include cases or pallets. It does not include identification of individual items and is intended for ‘Not for Sale’ purposes only.
If you notice, unique identification is crucial for everything. Imagine processes if there were no Aadhar Card, PAN card, Passport, etc. The market would be highly chaotic and inefficient for each person. This is the same for everything that surrounds us, including products. Like an identity proof is unique to an individual, GTIN is unique to each product type or SKU. For example, all Rs 10 milk chocolates manufactured by a company will have the same GTIN, say - “8905123282138”, likewise with changing attributes - bigger size, increased price, different type, etc. GTIN varies.
The purpose of assigning different GTINs is to ensure no two product types share the same unique identity globally. Suppose a barcode with the same GTIN “8905123282138” is used for a 100 Rs packet of almond chocolate; it will result in a data discrepancy. The physical image of the product and the information reflected on screen, upon scanning the barcode, will not match. Ultimately, the cashier would be forced to discard the product since selling it would impact their inventory count. This results in -
All this makes it extremely important for businesses to assign unique GTINs for their product identification. To know how GTINs are helping modern businesses automate their processes, read our blog titled “Benefits of Purchasing EANs Directly from GS1: A Guide for All Brand Owners”.
GS1 India is the only authorised provider of GTINs beginning with ‘890’ in India. To start your journey of unique product identification with us, follow the listed steps -
STEP 1: Visit the ‘Register for Barcodes’ page on GS1 India website.
STEP 2: Click on the top banner button - ‘Access the registration form’.
STEP 3: Fill the form by providing your company’s documents, selecting the number of barcodes, and paying the registration fee.
In a few working days, you will receive your GCP and DataKart’s login credentials.
Barcode Reimbursement Scheme - MSME-registered micro-manufacturing enterprises can get up to 80% reimbursement on GS1 barcode registration. It can be availed on the one-time registration fee of barcodes (on barcodes provided by GS1 India) and annual recurring fees for the first 3 years, in one go, as per MSME guidelines. The scheme is subject to a maximum limit of Rs 50,650/-. For more details, click here.
GTIN stands for Global Trade Item Number. It provides a unique identity to every product sold in market.
GTIN/EAN/UPC are used interchangeably. EAN and UPC are barcode symbologies defined by GS1. GTIN is the numeric encoded in EAN/UPC barcodes.
You can locate your product’s GTIN on the back of your product’s packaging, below the barcode.
Yes, most online marketplaces prefer and recommend GTIN for product listing on their marketplaces.
GS1 India is the only body in India authorised to issue GTINs beginning with ‘890’ in India. No other company can issue them.
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