Perhaps you are an expert on retail supply chain standards; perhaps you are involved in deploying an automatic identification project in the healthcare sector; or a traceability programme in the field of transport and logistics. Or perhaps you’re not so closely involved with that aspect of your business or your industry.

But no matter whether you’re an expert or not, and no matter how much or how little time and attention you or your organization gives to standards, you certainly should care about the value and the benefits that standards bring.

     Some companies develop their own proprietary identification, classification and data capture systems. Others use standards that are only functional within the confines of one single industry sector, or one

single country.

Global

No matter where in the world your company – or its suppliers, or its

customers – is based, GS1 standards will function perfectly there. 

The GS1 System of Standards is truly global.

Robust

Our standards have been purpose-built to be extremely robust. They react and respond predictably, even in unpredictable situations. GS1 Identification Keys are of a fixed length, and all benefit from a “check digit "which helps prevent accidental key stroke errors;

GS1 Data Carriers are best-in-class with highly reliable first-time read rates; GS1 Communication Standards have benefited from multiple data accuracy improvements; and together

the GS1 System is solid and scalable.

Muti-Sector

GS1 standards work within your organization … and outside of it too. But don’t just take our word for it: the GS1 System of Standards has been endorsed by a wide variety of industries. We enjoy strong working partnerships and alliances with a variety of organizations and trade associations, including Efficient Consumer Response (ECR), the Consumer Goods Forum, AIM Global (Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility), and the WCO (World Customs Organization).

The global healthcare sector is widely adopting GS1 standards, and a number of national ministries of Health has regulated their use. Similarly, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the World Customs Organization, which recognises in GS1 a true partner and ally in its efforts to protect borders. Furthermore, for many years, GS1 and GS1 Member Organisations have been actively engaged in UN/CEFACT, the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business; and GS1 has also had a long and fruitful working relationship with ISO, the

International Organization for Standardization.

User-Generated

All GS1 standards are built and maintained through the GS1 Global Standards Management Process (GSMP), a worldwide collaborative forum.

The GSMP is an open and transparent process which brings together volunteers from all industries and from everywhere in the world to identify needs for standards, gather business requirements, document best practices, obtain consensus on solutions, and then develop and

implement the resulting supply chain standards.

Scalable

Whether you are a small company or a large one,

whether you have one single product or hundreds, the GS1 System of Standards is perfectly suited to your needs. Indeed, if you are a small or specialized company, using the GS1 System is a particularly intelligent choice.

Why? Because it’s eminently scalable. No matter what the future holds for your business – an expansion of your line of products or services, an extension into new geographies, an acquisition or a merger – with the GS1 System, you are ready.