Who Uses GS1-128? Stakeholders in Supply Chain and Logistics

Overview

GS1-128 (UCC/EAN-128) is a supply-chain focused barcode that serves many roles. Understanding who uses it helps beginners map responsibilities, align processes, and prepare the right data and labels. This article explains the typical stakeholders, what each needs from GS1-128, and practical examples illustrating how organizations interact with the standard.

Primary Users

The most common users of GS1-128 across the supply chain include:

• Manufacturers — encode product identifiers (GTIN), batch/lot numbers, production dates, and expiry dates on cartons or pallets to meet buyer and regulatory requirements.
• Distributors and Wholesalers — rely on GS1-128 to receive, store, pick, and ship items efficiently; SSCC labels on pallets make inbound receiving and put-away faster.
• Retailers — often require GS1-128 pallet and carton labels for automated receiving; large retail chains mandate specific AI data elements so their systems can intake shipments automatically.
• 3PLs and Warehouse Operators — use GS1-128 barcodes to manage inventory, cross-docking, consolidation, and traceability for multiple customers.
• Transport and Freight Carriers — scan SSCC labels to confirm pickup/delivery, update tracking systems, and feed data into TMS platforms.

Sector-Specific Users

Some sectors have specialized use cases and regulatory drivers:

• Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare — hospitals, pharmacies and drug manufacturers use GS1-128 to encode GTINs, batch numbers and expiry dates to meet serialization and patient safety requirements. Traceability and recall readiness are crucial here.
• Food and Beverage — manufacturers and distributors rely on GS1-128 for lot-level traceability and expiry tracking to manage freshness and comply with safety regulations.
• Automotive and Industrial — parts manufacturers and assembly plants use GS1-128 to track batches and supply kits for production lines.

Regulatory and Compliance Users

Government agencies and regulators also interact with GS1-128 data when enforcing import/export rules, product safety, and traceability regulations. Customs and inspection authorities may read GS1-128 data on shipping documents or labels during inspections.

Who Issues Identifiers and Standards?

GS1 Member Organizations (local GS1 offices) provide the underlying numbering systems (company prefixes, GTIN allocations, GLNs, and guidance). Companies obtain SSCC serial ranges from their GS1 office and coordinate with trading partners to confirm which AIs are required.

Roles and Responsibilities

When implementing GS1-128, stakeholders typically split responsibilities:

• Manufacturer / Shipper — generates the GS1-128 barcode, ensures correct AIs and values (e.g., GTIN, batch, expiry), and prints legible labels on cartons or pallets.
• Warehouse / 3PL — verifies label readability on receipt, scans SSCC/GTIN into WMS, and maintains linkage between SSCC and physical inventory.
• Retailer / Receiver — communicates label requirements and validates that incoming GS1-128 data matches purchase orders or ASN/EDI messages.
• IT / Integration Teams — map GS1-128 AIs to internal database fields, configure scanners and backend systems, and support EDI/ASN workflows.

Practical Examples

Example 1: A beverage manufacturer ships pallets to a retailer. Each pallet uses GS1-128 to encode SSCC (00), GTIN of the packed product (01), and production date (11). The retailer scans the pallet and the WMS ingests all fields automatically for receiving and shelf planning.

Example 2: A pharmaceutical supplier places GS1-128 on cartons with GTIN + batch + expiry. Pharmacies scan these barcodes during goods-in and before dispensing to ensure patient safety and maintain electronic records.

Why Coordination Matters

GS1-128 is powerful only when trading partners agree on which AIs will be used and how data is formatted. Discrepancies cause scanning failures, manual workaround, and can lead to shipment rejections. Early coordination and test scans between partners prevent these issues.

Training and Change Management

Because many roles interact with GS1-128—warehouse staff, label designers, IT, compliance—training is key. Staff need to understand label placement, how to verify scannability, and the business meaning of encoded AIs so data is used correctly.

Common Mistakes by Users

Typical errors include printing poor-quality labels, using the wrong AIs, failing to include required AIs such as SSCC, or not verifying labels before shipping. Another frequent issue is assuming everyone interprets variable-length fields the same way—FNC1 and separators must be used correctly.

Conclusion

GS1-128 touches many stakeholders across manufacturing, warehousing, transportation, retail, and regulated industries. Knowing who uses it and why helps organizations assign responsibilities, align data requirements, and build smoother, automated workflows that reduce errors and speed supply-chain operations.