The Global Language of Business
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About GS1

GS1 believes in the power of standards to transform the way we work and live.

Selling a product starts with a GS1 barcode number

GS1 barcodes

The sound of a beep at the checkout counter. The GS1 barcode launched a digital revolution that forever changed the way the world does business. With a simple scan a product could be identified and connected to a computerised system.

Companies of all sizes need barcode numbers to correctly identify and sell their products in stores or online. The power of the data captured through the barcode is helping to solve large and complex industry challenges.

Improving the availability of reliable product information
Linking the right product to the right information
Making it easier to find and buy a product
Getting the right product to the right place at the right time
Delivering better shopping and healthcare experiences
Giving the right medicine to the right patient

Bridging the physical and digital worlds to improve consumer experiences and patient safety

consumer safety

Consumers, patients, business partners and regulators are demanding more and better product data than ever before—but complex and costly data exchange processes are producing a surge in low-quality data.

GS1 empowers industry’s digital transformation by enabling businesses to create a digital version of a product that is as good as the physical one. Ultimately, consumers and patients will benefit from increased product transparency and the seamless experiences that this brings.

Improving the availability of reliable product information
Improving the availability of reliable product information
Making it easier to find and buy a product
Making it easier to find and buy a product
Delivering better shopping and healthcare experiences
Delivering better shopping and healthcare experiences

Making it possible to do business more efficiently and safely

patient safety

GS1 standards are the most widely used system of standards in the world. By enabling the sharing of trusted quality data everywhere, they tell the story behind products—where they originated, what they contain and where they have been during their supply-chain journey. This, in turn, removes friction between business partners and improves performance and safety across the entire supply chain.

Increasing the speed of operations
Increasing the speed of operations
Reducing cost and waste
Reducing cost and waste
Protecting consumers and patients
Protecting consumers and patients

Bringing industry stakeholders together to move business forward

GS1 is a neutral, global collaboration platform that brings industry leaders, government, regulators, academia, and associations together to develop standards-based solutions to address the challenges of data exchange. Our scale and reach—local Member Organisations in 116 countries, over two million user companies and 10 billion transactions every day—helps ensure that there is a common language of business across the globe.

GS1 Stakeholders

Who we work with

We work with organisations of every size. Over two million are part of GS1—from international household names to small, local businesses. Designed by consensus, our standards are proven, open and benefit from collaboration with respected global companies.