GS1 Germany: Transforming Industries with Smart Barcoding

What is GS1 Germany?

GS1 Germany(DE) is a local chapter of non-profit organization that manages the development and maintenance of global standards for business communication.

The organization represents the requirements of German industry in the development of the GS1 System at the international level. It manages country- and industry-specific standards in Germany.  

These standards are used in various industries, namely logistics, retail, food & beverage, etc. They make sure a business’s value chain becomes more transparent and efficient at each point. In Germany, more than 95,000 companies use GS1 standards.

The organization has launched a startup accelerator called Butterfly & Elephant 2024, officially known as ‘GS1 Germany Accelerator GmbH’. Its objective is to support early-stage startups working on implementing innovative solutions in retail, logistics, healthcare, and e-commerce.

This initiative provides professional guidance, opportunities to connect with corporate partners from GS1 Chapter’s network and also share co-working spaces at the organization campus in Cologne. Startups receive more than just guidance; they become a part of a dynamic environment allowing them to gain insights, experiment, and refine their ideas with direct industry collaboration.

The Accelerator supports startup growth by promoting the adoption of GS1 standards like GTINs and GS1 Digital Link. So, it enables smooth integration of their innovations into digital ecosystems and supply chains.

For those wondering what is GS1 Digital Link, it is a standard connecting traditional barcodes with online information, facilitating smooth access to product details, traceability, and authentication.

GTINs (Global Trade Item Numbers) are unique identifiers issued by the GS1, to identify products in the global marketplace. They help ensure that products are recognized correctly by online marketplaces and search engines. 

Thus, they help improve visibility to consumers. GS1 issues GTI and online marketplaces, enhancing visibility to consumers.

How does the GS1 local chapter ensure data excellence?

GSDN is an internet-based network that enables companies to share standardized product information with their business partners easily and efficiently. 

It is built around the GS1 Global Registry and connects to GDSN-certified data pools, making sure product information always stays accurate, updated, and securely shared.

To ensure unique and standardized product and service identification in German retail, GTIN codes (EAN (European Article Numbers)) are generated by the GS1 local chapter. These codes are provided as part of different service packages.

To make sure the digital product information reliably meets the requirements of trade, legislators, and consumers, GS1 standards in Germany launched a comprehensive data quality (DQ) program in 2016 on behalf of industry and trade.

This initiative aims to establish a central system for automated quality assurance in the GDSN master data pool for the German market. 

It makes sure comprehensive product data is made accessible to all partners involved in the value chain correctly and timely, as per what is technically possible and practicable through automated checks. 

GS1 standards in Germany have developed the Data Quality Gate (DQG) and Data Quality Excellence (DQX) for quality assurance in the GSDN.

Data Quality Gate (DQG)

It receives product data via the GDSN data pool, automatically checks it as per the DQ standard, and sends audit reports to both the data providers and data recipients. 

All data providers are encouraged to actively use the DQG reports and instantly address any potential quality concerns to ensure that all data fully meets the requirements of the DQ standard. 

Note that an automatic check can’t fully determine the quality or accuracy of the data. This is only possible through an additional visual inspection. 

This additional visual inspection was developed as part of GS1 DQX (Data Quality Excellence) and was introduced comprehensively in 2020.

Data Quality Excellence (DQX)

The unique feature of GS1 DQX is the manual visual inspection performed in addition to the automatic checks. GS1 local chapter created and operates DQX and is increasingly demanded by industry stakeholders (retailers and distributors, manufacturers, brand owners, service providers, etc.).

In the manual visual inspection process, data records are compared and reviewed with product images. 
This process ensures a considerably higher quality of the product master data than what is achieved through automated checks alone, as per the expectations of all relevant stakeholders, both digital and analog.

The data validation is trigger based. This implies that an automatic check is usually performed when the data is first submitted, or data is updated or changed. 

Benefits of Using GS1 Standards in Germany

Here are some key advantages of using these standards in Germany:

Improved supply chain transparency

Germany strongly emphasizes supply chain transparency, chiefly with the rise of digital tracking solutions like the EU Digital Product Passport. The GS1 standards in Germany assist businesses in tracing product origins, material composition, and carbon footprints efficiently.

It enables companies to use Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) and GS1 barcodes to securely store and share product insights in real-time.

Optimized product identification

One key advantage of using GS1 standards in Germany is reliable and accurate product identification, which is inevitable in a fast-paced manufacturing and logistics sectors.

GS1 assigns globally unique identifiers, such as those standardized under ISO/IEC 15459. Subsequently, it ensures every product, unit, or shipping container is distinguishable. As a result, it makes tracking smoother across companies, systems, and even borders.

Germany’s move toward Industry 4.0—smart, data-driven manufacturing—amplifies the importance of smooth integration. GS1 identifiers integrate easily with technologies like IoT and RFID, which are commonly used in German factories and warehouses. 

IoT connects physical items like appliances or tools to the network, while RFID facilitates wireless tracking through tags and receivers.

With the help of Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC), this system guarantees quick, accurate, and reliable data collection. This leads to smoother product movement, easier inventory management, and better tracking across the supply chain.

In simple terms, GS1 standards simplify complex supply chain processes, fostering smart identification in a precision-driven, automated system.

Supports circular economy initiatives

Germany is one of the frontrunners within the EU in sustainability policies, promoting a circular economy where resources are reused and waste is minimized. GS1 standards in Germany support businesses to share standardized data to reduce waste and recycle products.

For example, companies in Germany use GS1 Serial Shipping Container Codes (SSCC) and Global Returnable Asset Identifiers (GRAI) to efficiently manage reverse logistics. 

This supports the country’s commitment to the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, helping industries reduce waste, track recyclable materials, and use resources more efficiently.

Improves consumer trust

The EU has strict consumer protection laws, and the GS1 chapter in Germany helps local businesses follow regulations while building customer trust.

The introduction of the GS1 Digital Link enables companies to share product details via NFC tags or QR codes. As a result, consumers can easily check traceability details, product authenticity, and sustainability certifications.

Digital Product Passports (DPP) are used in the supply chain to build consumer trust. It is a tool for collecting and sharing product data throughout its lifecycle.

It is a digital identity of a physical product that contains all relevant information about the product, from its origin to its composition and its entire life cycle. It is used in the supply chain to illustrate a product’s sustainability, environmental and recyclability attributes.

Recorded product data from across the supply chain (including raw material sourcing and manufacturing process) is captured on the DPP and shared amongst all stakeholders.

Reliable and precise scanning

GS1 standards enable consistent and accurate data capture across the supply chain, supporting a broad range of barcode types, including EAN/UPC, DataMatrix, and QR codes. By ensuring global interoperability, these standards reduce errors, speed up transactions, and improve traceability.

For example, error correction on GS1 QR codes ensures that users can access essential supply chain data even when the package is partly damaged.

Application of 2D Barcodes Across Industries in Germany

Retail & Ecommerce

German retailers are transitioning from traditional EAN barcodes to QR codes and GS1 DataMatrix to boost consumer engagement and improve traceability of products.

Consumers can scan these 2D barcodes to access detailed product information, including allergen info, ingredients, expiration dates, and sustainability credentials.

If you are confused on how to generate GS1 QR codes then you can use a reliable platform like QR Tiger QR code generator. It helps you create dynamic QR codes for your business growth.

Sunrise 2027 is an international initiative that encourages retailers to integrate 2D barcodes, such as Data Matrix and GS1 QR codes, into their point-of-sale systems by 2027. It denotes a starting point on a collective effort within the industry to optimize systems and transition to the next generation of barcodes.

Logistics & Supply Chain Management

Logistics companies in the country integrate 2D barcodes for real-time tracking and inventory management. Logistic providers can use a GS1 Digital Link QR code to reduce label clutter by combining multiple data points.  It helps reduce time spent on manual tasks like inventory counting.

Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals

The pharmaceutical industry in the country uses GS1 DataMatrix codes to adhere to the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) regulations. These codes hold information like batch numbers, serial numbers, and expiration dates.

Thus, they ensure product authenticity and prevent counterfeit drugs. Pharmacies and hospitals integrate 2D barcodes into electronic medical records (EMR) to facilitate accurate tracking of medicine usage, improve patient safety, and reduce errors.

Food & Beverage

In Germany, food manufacturers use GS1 DataMatrix codes to comply with the EU food safety regulations. With these codes, they can track allergens, product origin, and nutritional values. So, consumers benefit from transparency.

Smart product packaging is one of the remarkable applications of using GS1 QR codes for industry compliance, and the food & beverage industry also focuses on it. Incorporating these codes in product packages helps convey verification details and usage instructions for consumers.

Automotive & Manufacturing

The country’s automotive sector uses 2D barcodes for component identification and quality control. They store comprehensive manufacturing data to ensure efficient recalls and optimize the supply chain process.

Factories deploy GS1 barcodes in predictive maintenance systems to allow instant scanning of components to access service history and avoid potential breakdowns.

Inspiring Success Stories from the GS1 Local Chapter

Let’s go through a few real use cases:

1) CasaVecchio Eismanufaktur streamlines product identification

Ralf Casamassa is the co-founder of the CasaVecchio Eismanufaktur based in Cologne Porz. Initially, the brand produced ice creams for small shops and farms. This brand handles many flavors of ice cream and different package sizes.

To expand its retail business, it contacted GS1 to get EAN codes. By having EANs on products, they benefited from efficient distribution and internal processing. Now the brand manufactures and supplies its products to businesses belonging to the retail, hotel, and catering industries. It also reaches individual consumers via its online shop.

2) 50NRTH scales e-commerce efficiency

50NRTH is a reliable partner for innovative products in the outdoor and garden sector. With the increasing demand for its products in the market, the brand increased its workforce and warehouse capacity.

As its business grew, it realized the importance of automating and digitizing its production processes. It uses official GTINs (formerly EANs) to enhance the internal processes for streamlining warehouse operations, maintain clear communication with dealers, and optimize product data for better visibility, particularly when selling on Amazon.

With official EANs from GS1 Chapter in Germany, the brand benefits from unique item identification, making it easier for consumers to find products on marketplaces.

Collaborated Campaigns

Let’s go through the details of campaigns in Germany in which the local GS1 organization has participated or supported businesses in their implementation.

1) Lean and Green

Originally founded in the Netherlands, Lean and Green is a non-profit initiative that rewards companies for cutting CO₂ emissions in their warehousing and logistics processes. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% within five years.

The GS1 local chapter hosts the initiative in Germany to support participating companies in their sustainability efforts. It cooperated with BigMile, a platform for optimizing the CO2 footprint in the transport sector.

The cooperation facilitates companies to submit their data in a simple, structured process and subsequently calculate the carbon footprint.

The initiative connects retailers, manufacturers, and logistics companies, aiming to cut down their greenhouse gas emissions. It supports them in planning and deploying suitable measures.

2) SiLKe - Secure food chain through blockchain technology

The standard has launched the SiLKe research project with eight project partners on June 1, 2019. The project’s goal is to enhance the transparency and security of food production and logistics processes through blockchain technology. It fosters detailed tracing while simultaneously guaranteeing protection against counterfeiting.

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research funds the SiLKe research project. With improved traceability and transparency of supply chains, stakeholders can share the required product tracking data throughout the supply chain.

In case of any issues in supply chain processes, the initiative provides measures to protect consumers more effectively and quickly.

3) COPPA for sustainable food packaging from plastics

COPPA stands for Open Circular Collaboration Platform (CCP) for Sustainable Food Packaging from Plastics. The CCP enables material tracking and focuses on sharing details about the recycled material, such as origin, content, and quality.

GS1 standards in Germany contribute to the establishment of a common digital language that advises all participating companies about the plastics lifecycle. The initiative establishes end-to-end tracking of plastics from packaging.

It facilitates a more accurate and efficient sharing of information for automatic quality verification, forecasting availability, etc. It also undergoes assessment of recycled material composition and quality.

Harness GS1 Standards in Germany for Business Growth

These standards play a pivotal role in improving productivity, transparency, and compliance across various industries. It improves the efficiency of cross-company processes along the entire value chain. Supply chain optimization, consumer trust, and streamlined product identification are some of the key benefits of using GS1-compliant QR codes. 

The adoption of GS1 standards helps German businesses meet regulatory requirements, reduce errors, and improve traceability. By joining GS1, businesses can improve workflow and maintain global compliance.