What is the role of the GS1 focused on barcode usages?
GS1 is a global organization that develops and maintains standards for business communication and identification, including the use of barcodes. The organization's main focus is on the development and implementation of the GS1 system, which is a set of global standards for the identification, capture, and sharing of product information throughout the supply chain.
In terms of barcodes, GS1 provides standards for the design and use of barcode symbols, ensuring that they are readable and scannable across different systems and technologies. GS1's barcode standards cover a wide range of applications, including retail, healthcare, and logistics.
Some of the key barcode standards developed by GS1 include the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), which is used to uniquely identify products, and the Global Location Number (GLN), which is used to identify physical locations such as warehouses, stores, and hospitals. GS1 also provides standards for barcode symbologies, such as the EAN/UPC barcode used in retail, the DataMatrix barcode used in healthcare, and the GS1-128 barcode used in logistics.
By developing and promoting these standards, GS1 aims to improve the efficiency and accuracy of supply chain operations, reduce costs, and enhance the customer experience by ensuring that product information is accurate and easily accessible.