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Global Trade Item Number

A GTIN identifies a trade item across businesses. Internal item codes, serial numbers and barcodes have different roles.

Also known asGTIN
E-Commerce

Identifying trade items across businesses

A Global Trade Item Number, or GTIN, is a standardised GS1 identifier for trade items. It identifies a particular product, not automatically an individual physical instance. A serial number distinguishes individual instances. A GTIN can be represented in a barcode; for example, a GTIN-13 can be encoded in an EAN-13 barcode. EAN is used as a name in this context, while GTIN covers several number formats. An internal item code, often called a SKU, is instead managed for the business's own systems.

A fictional merchant records a white shelf under the internal identifier SHELF-WHITE. The supplier provides its assigned GTIN. Before matching, the business checks that the number belongs to the exact version and packaging unit concerned. The internal identifier and confirmed GTIN are stored as separate, linked fields in the item master. This retains the company's internal mapping while allowing the same goods to be matched with trading partners through their standardised identifier.

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