The e-commerce industry and GS1
GS1 provides solutions for the e-commerce industry through global standards and services for identification, capturing and sharing. This promotes greater efficiency and creates customer value. By working in a standardized way, you can meet the demands for standardized information, meet consumer demands and increase efficiency in inventory management, delivery and return processes. The increasing need to meet regulatory requirements on product origin, climate impact and production conditions requires a growing amount of validated product information to be shared in a simple, secure and standardized way. GS1 standards meet these challenges in the rapidly evolving e-commerce industry.
Why GS1?
In the e-commerce industry, there are currently untapped use cases where suppliers and e-retailers use their own solutions that create inefficiencies. GS1 standards enable increased growth, reduced costs and improved societal impact through sustainability throughout the value chain. In addition, the standards allow for more efficient inventory management, which is a big advantage for companies that sell through multiple channels, such as websites, apps and physical stores.
Companies can use GS1 standards for identification to avoid duplicate part numbers, and traceability solutions enable interoperability between different trading partners and their ecosystems. GS1 standards for capturing enable extensive information sharing with both consumers and trading partners in the value chain, including URLs, apps, assembly instructions, serial numbers and more. Using GS1 data sharing services, standardized and validated trade item information can be seamlessly shared across global value chains, ensuring data quality and efficiency.
Benefits for your business
Improved traceability
Ensures that rules and legal requirements linked to sustainability are followed by having access to correct data and information about products. Enables increased circularity of products and materials through traceability throughout the value chain.
Reduced costs
Minimize manual processes through a standardized flow of correct article information and efficient business processes through EDI. Minimizes returns by improving quality and reducing duplicate products in the product catalog.
Efficient transport and accurate deliveries
Streamline logistics flows through improved visibility and traceability of products.
Increased growth
By providing accurate, verified and comparable product information, the customer experience is improved. Identify new business opportunities through access to, and sharing of, data with partners and customers.
Common standards and services in the e-commerce industry
In your industry, it is common to use GS1 standards for identification, capturing and sharing.
GTIN (GS1 item number) for unique global identification of products.
GLN for identification of locations and parties.
GS1 Digital Link helps you connect your product information to the web through a barcode that can be scanned with a mobile phone.
EPCIS is a GS1 standard for sharing real-time event information on the physical movement and status of a product throughout the supply chain, from production to end customer.
GS1 EDI is the collective name for GS1 standards for electronic commerce. EDI allows business partners to exchange electronic business information, such as order and invoice, in a structured, secure and accurate way.
GDSN is the world’s largest product data network where all companies in all markets can upload and share high-quality digital product information. At GS1 Sweden, the data pool is called Validoo.
QR code is a two-dimensional (2D) barcode that can contain large amounts of encoded information such as; a web address, user manual, or other product information. 2D codes will be globally implemented and readable in stores’ systems by 2027.
EPC/RFID enables track and trace solutions and is used to increase transparency in the supply chain and increase visibility into inventory levels.
Toolbox for brand owners
Step-by-step guides with videos, checklists and other resources to get to grips with GS1 standards and services for the e-commerce industry.
Guides and related information
GS1 standards for easier e-commerce
Improving digital product information
Identify and barcode mark palletsWhat’s happening in your sector
Read about the latest developments in the e-commerce industry.
How industry GS1 standards are evolving
Do you have questions about GS1 standards in the e-commerce industry? By filling in the form, you will be in direct contact with the person responsible for e-commerce at GS1 Sweden.
Lena Coulibaly, Senior Sales & Client Relations Manager, GS1 Sweden