The way of doing business has changed significantly in the last few years. Dependability on information technology is on the rise and it requires a system of coding that is unique and unambiguous by which all relevant items and their data can be identified.

The GS1 standards facilitate the need to process and communicate business data with trading partners electronically. These numbers are purely identification keys to access a product or service and its characteristic in the database. These numbers are represented in bar code form to allow for automatic data capture at any point in the supply chain. The same numbering identification structure is also used to identify trading partners, thus allowing the transmission of the items to the right parties.

The GS1 System of identification covers several areas of applications. They include trade items, logistics units, assets and location.

Technical Specifications sections: > Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) > Bar Code Specifications > Application Identifiers and GS1-128 Symbology > Serial Shipping Container Code > GS1 Databar > GS1 Malaysia - Ten Steps to Bar Code Implementation