GS1 standards create a common foundation for business by uniquely identifying, accurately capturing and automatically sharing vital information about products, locations, assets and more. Businesses can also combine different GS1 standards to streamline business processes such as traceability.

With the GS1 system and its associated standards, businesses can comprehensively manage product information by ensuring complete transparency throughout the production and value chain. See the overall GS1 system and its subsections depicted below. 

GS1 offers a global, scalable identification system that can be used in any industry. The GS1 standards are used to identify and label products, locations and parties and to read and share information in a machine-readable format.

The standards are divided into three parts

1. Identify
2. Capture
3. Share 

Identify

With GS1 bar codes and RFID/EPC identifiers, you can transfer product information quickly and securely onto a computer. They are used extensively around the world to label various goods, such as cereal packaging, clothing, hospital beds and railway carriages.  

Capture

GS1 standards are used to capture goods, locations, parties, parcels and more. Businesses around the world use these standards to enhance their flow of products and information.

Share

With the information sharing standards of GS1, business partners are able to exchange product information, orders and other data quickly and easily and monitor shipments in real time.