Taking the Full Advantage of GS1 Application Identifiers

Barcodes encode product data, but without GS1 Application Identifiers (AIs), systems can’t tell what’s what. A price? An expiration date? A batch number? It’s just a string of numbers unless it is given meaning.

GS1 AIs act as data labels, structuring information so that inventory systems, logistics, and compliance checks can instantly recognize each piece of data. To understand their impact, let’s break down what’s inside a barcode—and why proper labeling changes everything.

Data Elements of a Barcode

Barcodes help businesses track products, shipments, and assets. These data elements fall into three main categories: Primary Identifiers, Key Qualifiers, and Data Attributes. Each plays a role in ensuring accurate product handling and traceability.

Primary Identifiers (What’s being tracked?)

These codes tell what is being identified—whether it's a product, a shipment, or a location. They serve as the foundation of barcode data.

GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) – Identifies a specific product or item in the supply chain and is commonly used in POS.

SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) – Tracks logistics units like pallets or shipping boxes.

GIAI (Global Individual Asset Identifier) – Used for unique assets such as machinery or IT equipment.

GRAI (Global Returnable Asset Identifier) – Helps track reusable containers, pallets, or rental equipment.

GLN (Global Location Number) – Identifies business locations like warehouses, stores, or offices.

Key Qualifiers (Additional tracking details)

These elements add more context to a primary identifier, answering questions like: Which batch or which individual unit?

Batch/Lot Number – Groups products made under the same conditions, critical for recalls and quality control.

Serial Number – Assigns a unique code to each item, useful for high-value goods and medical devices.

Consumer Product Variant – Differentiate between size, color, or flavor variations.

Data Attributes (Descriptive details for handling & compliance)

These attributes give extra details about a product, helping businesses manage storage, shipping, and safety regulations.

Use by/Expiration Date – Shows the last date a product should be used or sold.

Manufacturing Date – Indicates when the product was made.

Weight & Dimensions – Essential for shipping, storage, and shelf placement.

Certification Codes – Identifies approvals like organic, kosher, or safety compliance marks.

Storage & Handling Conditions – Specifies if a product needs refrigeration, freezing, or special handling.

What are GS1 Application Identifiers, and how do they work

Application identifiers work like labels, telling systems exactly what each barcode value represents. Without them, a barcode is just a meaningless string of numbers. 

They also remove the guesswork by structuring data for automated sorting, inventory management, and compliance checks. 

Whether a warehouse manages stock or a hospital verifies medication, these identifiers ensure every scan delivers clear, usable information—no manual interpretation is needed.

The Numeric Prefix System

Each AI starts with a short numeric code that defines the type of data that follows. These prefixes ensure that barcode readers and inventory systems interpret the information correctly. Here are some common examples:

• (01) = GTIN 
• (10) = Batch/Lot Number
• (17) = Expiration Date (formatted as YYMMDD)
• (22) = Customer Product Variant

How AIs Work in 1D Barcodes—and Why 2D Barcodes Do It Better

1D barcodes, like UPC or EAN, rely on GS1 Application Identifiers to structure data. But there's a catch—they don’t have enough space to carry everything in one barcode.

Since each AI has a fixed length or requires a separator, products in the supply chain often need multiple 1D barcodes to fit all the necessary details.

One for retail, another for shipping, and sometimes an extra for internal tracking. It’s inefficient and takes up valuable packaging space.

That’s where 2D barcodes change the game. A GS1 QR code or Data Matrix can store all the needed AIs in a compact format—GTIN, batch number, expiration date, serial number—without cramming multiple barcodes onto a label.

For retail barcodes, GS1 QR codes will be the most commonly used alternative for UPC. A QR code can hold over 7,000 numeric characters or roughly 4,000 alphanumeric characters—significantly more than a traditional 1D barcode, which maxes out at around 48 characters.

They also support GS1 Digital Link, which means a scan can pull up real-time updates, recalls, or additional product info online.

Static and Dynamic Data Attributes in a GS1 QR Code

A GS1 QR code can contain static and dynamic elements, depending on how the information is managed. The key distinction is whether the data remains unchanged after printing or can be updated through an external source.

Once the QR code is printed and deployed, product identifiers and key qualifiers are always static. It is in the Data attribute that you can have either static or dynamic options.

Static Data Attributes

Data attributes, such as expiration dates or product descriptions, can also be embedded statically. However, if any updates are required, the QR code must be reprinted.

Fortunately, the link within the GS1 Digital Link QR code is dynamic, allowing it to point to an updated version of the data. However, it's important to ensure that users clearly recognize it as the correct version to avoid potential confusion.

✅ Pros:

• Always accessible—scans work without an internet connection.
• Ensures consistency since the embedded data never changes.

❌ Cons:

• Any updates require reprinting a new QR code.
• Storing too much information increases QR code size, making scanning less efficient.

Dynamic Data Attributes

Instead of embedding all details in the QR code, certain data attributes can be stored in a database and accessed via a GS1 Digital Link. When scanned, the QR code directs users to an online source where the latest information is retrieved.

Even when data is stored externally, GS1 Application Identifiers still organize it. This ensures that when information is retrieved, systems can correctly interpret the data.

✅ Pros:

• Real-time updates allow for recalls, regulatory changes, and marketing updates.
• Keeps the QR code compact and easy to scan.
• Provides flexibility for supply chain management and customer engagement.

❌ Cons:

• Requires an internet connection to access updated data.
• Relies on the availability of the external database—if it’s down, some information won’t be accessible.

Using Application Identifiers to its fullest

GS1 Application Identifiers are most effective when used with 2D barcodes like GS1 QR codes. Unlike traditional 1D barcodes, GS1 QR codes can store multiple AIs in a single scan, providing both static product identifiers and dynamic data attributes.

This flexibility allows businesses to maintain fixed details while updating essential information in real time through external databases.

By leveraging GS1 QR codes, companies can improve traceability, enhance compliance, and provide customers with accurate, up-to-date product information—all while keeping barcode management efficient and scalable.

DISCLAIMER: We acknowledge that GS1, as well as the materials, proprietary items, and all related patents, copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property (collectively, “intellectual property”) relating to its use, are the property of GS1 Global, and that our use of the same shall be in accordance with the conditions provided by GS1 Global.