What Are GS1 Barcodes and Why Do They Matter?

GS1 barcodes are globally standardized codes that uniquely identify products, cases, or pallets across the supply chain. Each GS1 barcode contains a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), which ensures your product is traceable and recognized by major retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart.

GS1 barcodes are essential for retail, eCommerce, and logistics — powering automation, inventory accuracy, and product authenticity across global supply chains.

How GS1 US Powers GS1 Barcodes and Global Standards

GS1 US is the official body that assigns unique Company Prefixes in the United States. These prefixes form the base of your GS1 barcode numbers. GS1 US also maintains the standards used for:

• UPC for retail products

• GS1–128 (formerly UCC-128) for shipping containers

• QR and DataMatrix codes for healthcare and logistics

GS1 Barcodes vs UPC Codes: What’s the Difference?

GS1 is the organization that defines barcode standards. UPC is just one type of barcode issued under GS1 rules. All valid UPCs are GS1-compliant, but not all GS1 barcodes are UPCs.

If you’re selling internationally or managing shipments and inventory in bulk, you’ll often use other GS1 formats like GS1–128 or ITF-14.

How Many GS1 Barcodes Do You Need for Your Products?

You need a unique GS1 barcode for each:

• Product variation (color, size, style)

• Pack size or bundle (e.g., 1-pack, 3-pack, 12-pack)

• Case or pallet shipping unit

For example, if you sell 3 colors of a t-shirt in 4 sizes, you need 12 GS1 barcodes. And if you ship cases, you’ll also need GS1–128 labels with unique SSCCs.

How ActionEDI Automates GS1–128 Barcode Labels for You

Manually generating GS1 labels can lead to errors, delays, and compliance issues. That’s where ActionEDI comes in:

• 💡 Automatically generates GS1–128 labels from your orders

• 📦 Auto-fills PO, quantity, ship-to address, and SSCC numbers

• 🖨️ Creates ZPL files ready for your thermal printer

• ✅ 100% compliant with Amazon, Target, and other retailers

Whether you’re an SME or scaling up, ActionEDI helps you stay compliant and ship faster.

Next Steps: Make GS1 Barcode Compliance Simple

If you’re ready to simplify how you generate and manage GS1 barcodes, ActionEDI can help you:

• ✅ Print GS1–128 labels on demand

• ✅ Automate your ASN and DESADV workflows

• ✅ Stay retailer-compliant with no IT required

• ✅ Scale without worrying about barcode or user limits

Barcode compliance doesn’t have to be complicated.

👉 Book a demo with ActionEDI today and automate your GS1 labeling in days — not months.