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GS1 identification keys

GS1 ID Keys give companies efficient ways to access information about items in their supply chains, and share this information with trading partners.

ID Keys enable organisations to assign standard identifiers to products, documents, physical locations and more.

Because GS1 ID keys are globally unique, they can be shared between organisations, increasing supply chain visibility for trading partners.

To build a GS1 ID key, your organisation must become a member of GS1 and obtain a GS1 Company Prefix. This will form the basis of your ID keys.

There are 12 GS1 ID keys, allowing organisations to connect physical events and related information, as in the table below.

Trust and efficiency start with a valid ID. Use Verified by GS1 to ensure GS1 keys are correctly assigned.

Learn more

ID Key Used to Identify Example
Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) Products and services Can of soup, chocolate bar, music album
Global Location Number (GLN) Parties and locations Companies, warehouses, factories, stores
Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) Logistics units Unit loads on pallets, roll cages, parcels
Global Returnable Asset Identifier (GRAI) Returnable assets Pallet cases, crates, totes
Global Individual Asset Identifier (GIAI) Assets Medical, manufacturing, transport and IT equipment
Global Service Relation Number (GSRN) Service provider and recipient relationships Loyalty scheme members, doctors at a hospital, library members
Global Document Type Identifier (GDTI) Documents Tax demands, shipment forms, driving licences
Global Identification Number for Consignment (GINC) Consignments Logistics units transported together in an ocean container
Global Shipment Identification Number (GSIN) Shipments Logistics units delivered to a customer together
Global Coupon Number (GCN) Coupons Digital coupons
Component/Part Identifier (CPID) Components and parts Automobile parts
Global Model Number (GMN) product model Medical devices