When people speak to each other in different languages progress is very slow and misunderstandings are frequent. The same applies to companies doing business: when they can’t understand each other, inefficiency and error results. Standards are needed so that organisations can all refer to the same things in the same way when they do business. GS1 standards are the global language of business.

The GS1 System

The GS1 System provides standard identification numbers for traded items and standard ways to represent these identifiers (for example in the form of standard bar codes). In fact the GS1 System goes further by enabling identification not only of traded goods but also of companies, locations, services, assets, logistics units and customers.

What's more, the numbers issued by GS1 are completely unique, so no product can be confused with another. And the system is international so this uniqueness applies around the world.

GS1 standard bar codes represent GS1 identification numbers in a form that is easily and accurately readable. But the numbers are designed to be carried in other ways that also bring benefit such as RFID tags and electronic business messages.

The GS1 System can be used by all industries and in all parts of the supply chain, from supply of raw materials through manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution to an end point, such as a retail check-out, a hospital bedside or a restaurant..

The GS1 System offers benefits to all organisations by reducing costs, saving time, and increasing accuracy and efficiency. It promotes automation, increases control and enables goods to be tracked and traced.

Over one million companies around the world are benefiting from using the GS1 standards. These companies range from the very smallest to the very largest. There are users in the private and public sectors, and in the UK industries as diverse as retail, healthcare, defence and energy supply, amongst many others, are all involved.