# GS1 Identifier and Application Identifier Reference (GTIN, SSCC, GLN) > Source: https://netray.co/tools/gs1-identifier-and-application-identifier-reference > Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems. > Section: Free Tools ## Short answer Look up GS1 identification keys and common barcode application identifiers with lengths and typical ERP use. ## Category supply-chain ## Audience - ERP admin - MDM analyst - Warehouse systems - Supply chain ## Tool **Kind:** worksheet **Mode:** reference **Columns:** #### Identifier or AI **Key:** item **Type:** text #### AI **Key:** ai **Type:** text #### Format **Key:** format **Type:** text #### Typical use **Key:** use **Type:** text #### ERP master data note **Key:** erp **Type:** text **Rows:** **Item:** GTIN-8 **Ai:** 01 (as 14 digits) **Format:** 8 digits **Use:** Small items with limited packaging space **Erp:** Store left-padded in a 14 character field **Item:** GTIN-12 (UPC-A) **Ai:** 01 (as 14 digits) **Format:** 12 digits **Use:** Retail trade items, North America **Erp:** Store left-padded in a 14 character field **Item:** GTIN-13 (EAN-13) **Ai:** 01 (as 14 digits) **Format:** 13 digits **Use:** Retail trade items, global **Erp:** Store left-padded in a 14 character field **Item:** GTIN-14 **Ai:** 01 **Format:** 14 digits **Use:** Cases, cartons and other trade item groupings **Erp:** Leading indicator digit shows packaging level **Item:** SSCC **Ai:** 00 **Format:** 18 digits **Use:** Logistic unit such as a pallet or shipment **Erp:** Unique per logistic unit, never reused for a pallet build **Item:** GLN **Ai:** 414 **Format:** 13 digits **Use:** Physical location, legal entity or function **Erp:** Maps to ship-to, ship-from and plant records **Item:** GLN of party **Ai:** 410 / 411 **Format:** 13 digits **Use:** Ship to or deliver to (410), invoice to (411) **Erp:** Store on customer and vendor address records **Item:** GIAI **Ai:** 8004 **Format:** Up to 30 alphanumeric **Use:** Individual returnable or fixed asset **Erp:** Maps to equipment or asset number **Item:** GRAI **Ai:** 8003 **Format:** 14 digits plus up to 16 alphanumeric **Use:** Returnable asset such as a pallet or container **Erp:** Used for pooled returnable packaging **Item:** GSRN **Ai:** 8017 / 8018 **Format:** 18 digits **Use:** Service relation, provider (8017) or recipient (8018) **Erp:** Rare in manufacturing, common in healthcare **Item:** GDTI **Ai:** 253 **Format:** 13 digits plus optional serial **Use:** Document type identifier **Erp:** Document tracking and certificates **Item:** Batch or lot number **Ai:** 10 **Format:** Up to 20 alphanumeric **Use:** Lot traceability on labels **Erp:** Match lot field length to 20 characters **Item:** Serial number **Ai:** 21 **Format:** Up to 20 alphanumeric **Use:** Unit-level serialisation **Erp:** Match serial field length to 20 characters **Item:** Production date **Ai:** 11 **Format:** 6 digits YYMMDD **Use:** Date of manufacture **Erp:** Convert to ERP date type on scan **Item:** Best before date **Ai:** 15 **Format:** 6 digits YYMMDD **Use:** Quality date for food and consumables **Erp:** Convert to ERP date type on scan **Item:** Expiration date **Ai:** 17 **Format:** 6 digits YYMMDD **Use:** Shelf life limit **Erp:** Drives shelf-life and expiry controls **Item:** Count of items **Ai:** 30 **Format:** Up to 8 digits **Use:** Variable count of units in a trade item **Erp:** Use with variable-quantity items **Item:** Content count (units per container) **Ai:** 37 **Format:** Up to 8 digits **Use:** Count of trade items contained in a logistic unit **Erp:** Maps to quantity on the pallet label **Item:** Customer purchase order number **Ai:** 400 **Format:** Up to 30 alphanumeric **Use:** Buyer PO reference on the label **Erp:** Match PO number length in the ERP **Item:** Ship to postal code **Ai:** 420 **Format:** Up to 20 alphanumeric **Use:** Single-country postal code of destination **Erp:** Used in carrier sortation **Notes:** Reference summary of GS1 General Specifications structure, not a copy of the standard. GS1 maintains the authoritative list and updates it, so confirm each AI and its length in the current GS1 General Specifications before building label or interface logic. A GTIN is only valid with a correct check digit, which is calculated with a modulo 10 algorithm. ## Content **Intro:** When an item master has a GTIN field that is 12 characters wide, or a lot field shorter than the 20 characters a GS1-128 label can carry, scans fail and interfaces truncate. This reference lists the main GS1 keys and the most-used application identifiers so you can size and validate ERP fields correctly. **Sections:** #### How to use the reference **Body:** Search by identifier name, AI number or use. Read the Format column to size the ERP field, and the ERP note column to see how to store it. Export the table to Excel and compare it against the actual field lengths in your item, location and asset masters. A mismatch between the label content and the ERP field length is the most common cause of failed scans and rejected advance ship notices. Use the table in a design workshop with the warehouse and customer compliance teams to agree which AIs your labels must carry. #### How GS1 keys and AIs work **Body:** GS1 identification keys are numbers that uniquely identify things: the GTIN identifies a trade item, the SSCC a logistic unit, the GLN a location or party, the GIAI and GRAI assets. An application identifier, or AI, is a short numeric prefix in a barcode that tells the scanner what the following data means, for example 01 for GTIN, 10 for lot, 17 for expiry. Barcodes such as GS1-128 and GS1 DataMatrix concatenate several AI and value pairs in one symbol. **Bullets:** - GTIN-8, 12 and 13 are all stored as 14 digits with leading zeros - The last digit of every numeric key is a check digit - Variable length AIs end with a separator character in the barcode - Dates in AIs use YYMMDD, not an ERP date format #### Master data implications **Body:** Store the GTIN in a 14 character field, left-padded with zeros, so the same field holds all four lengths. Validate the check digit on entry. Keep lot and serial fields at least 20 characters wide. Link each GLN to the corresponding ship-to or plant record so ASN and invoice messages carry the right party. Keep the SSCC counter in one place, not per warehouse, to avoid duplicates. Treat the GTIN as unique per packaging level: an each, an inner pack and a case have different GTINs and different item records or unit of measure conversions. #### Common mistakes **Body:** Storing the GTIN as a number drops leading zeros and breaks matching, so always use text. Reusing a GTIN for a materially changed product creates traceability conflicts. Using one SSCC for several pallets defeats the purpose of the key. Assuming every customer needs the same AIs is another pitfall: retailers and defense primes publish their own label specs, so check the customer's supplier guide. Never invent your own two-digit prefixes in a GS1-128 label. **Cta:** If your item or location masters need GS1 fields validated and cleaned across a large catalogue, our team can profile your data and report the exceptions. **Faq:** #### What is the difference between a GTIN and an SSCC? **Answer:** A GTIN identifies a type of trade item, the same for every unit of that product. An SSCC identifies one specific logistic unit, such as a single pallet, and is unique per unit. The GTIN says what it is, the SSCC says which one. #### Should I store a GTIN as a number? **Answer:** No. Store it as text in a 14 character field with leading zeros. Numeric storage drops leading zeros and causes mismatches between GTIN-12, GTIN-13 and GTIN-14 versions of the same code. #### How long can a lot number be on a GS1 label? **Answer:** AI 10 allows up to 20 alphanumeric characters. If your ERP lot field is shorter, labels can carry values that the system cannot store. Size the ERP field to at least 20 characters. #### Do I need GS1 numbers for internal items? **Answer:** Not necessarily. GTINs are for trade items that cross company boundaries or retail scanning. Purely internal parts can keep internal part numbers, though many companies adopt GS1 keys for assets and logistic units to support customers. ## Search terms gtin 8 12 13 14 length, gs1 application identifier list, sscc 18 digit format, gln 13 digit, gs1 128 ai 01 10 21, gtin field length erp, gs1 identification keys table --- Talk to an engineer: https://netray.co/contact?intent=erp_ai | Machine catalog: https://netray.co/agent/catalog.json