• How to use GTINs and UPCs on Amazon

    By ZonSupport | Posted on December 1, 2023| Blog

    GTINs and UPC are simple but complex!

    We see so much commentary in online groups that is just wrong. Armchair experts wade in with their opinion, typically so-called workarounds to save some money when setting up products for sale on Amazon.

    As a result, sellers may compromise on how they can maintain control of their products in the future. GTINs and UPCs are one of the building blocks of your online business, so they’re something you need to ensure you understand.

    We turned to GS1 US which is part of one of the largest identification and standards organizations in the world. They’re best known as the administrator of the UPC barcode so asked them six of the most the most common questions we hear.

    1. What is a Global Trade Item Number?

    Online marketplace sellers are frequently asked for their Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), the number encoded into a UPC barcode that uniquely identifies a product when it is listed online or is read by a barcode scanner. They help sellers prove that they are selling legitimate products and support good inventory management practices.

    2. How Do I Get a GTIN?

    Truly unique GTINs come from GS1. GTINs sourced from GS1 US will automatically be included in the GS1 Global Registry, a database that many retailers and online marketplaces use to verify product identification.

    There are two options for obtaining authentic GTINs:

    For small businesses, the best option may be to license individual GS1 US GTINs for $30 each.

    For businesses looking to launch 10 or more products or product variations, there is the GS1 Company Prefix. This option allows businesses to create authentic GTINs in bundles of 10, 100, and more.

    GS1 US offers an estimator tool that helps business owners determine which option is right for them. This is based on how many products they have, how many variations of the product there are, and how they anticipate their company will grow in the future.

    3. What Are the Benefits of a GS1 Company Prefix?

    Licensing a GS1 Company Prefix helps sellers manage their growth and diversify their business long-term. The Prefix allows members to create additional identifiers often used in retail supply chain business processes, such as the Serialized Shipping Container Code (SSCC) or GS1-128 barcode labels to identify cartons exchanged between trading partners.

    Whether the seller has created GTINs using their GS1 Company Prefix, or licensed single GS1 US GTINs, they have access to GS1 US Data Hub | Product, which is an online tool for GS1 US members to create
    and manage GTINs and barcodes.

    Also using a GS1 US Solution Partner, sellers can outsource barcode art and printing needs. These providers are trained by GS1 US on GS1 Standards for barcodes.

    4. Will I Need to Change My GTINs?

    Though there are a few rare exceptions, businesses need to create a new GTIN for each product variation they sell. Product variations, such as different packaging quantities, colors, scents, sizes, or flavors, require unique GTINs to distinguish between variations.

    To view all the rules, check out GS1’s GTIN Management Standard which is available to help brands understand the nuances and specific instances of when new GTINs are needed. The standard services as a critical guide to help the industry make consistent decisions about the unique identification of trade items in the supply chain.

    5. What Should Sellers Do if a Listing Is “Hijacked” on a Marketplace?

    Occasionally, bad actors posing as legitimate sellers can steal a company’s product listing, claim it as their own, and collect sales earnings for products that are never shipped. Some sellers look for a shortcut around the marketplace’s GS1 Standards requirements and just put in whatever GTIN they can find without any real knowledge of how unique identification works.

    Listings that are “hijacked” should be immediately reported to Amazon. They will likely ask the seller to provide a GS1 Company Prefix or GTIN ownership certificate that effectively demonstrates the link between the company and the product in question via the GTINs assigned to those products.

    It’s important to note that there are a few factors that can affect the overall health of your product listing.  The GTIN is just one component. Sellers should ensure key details are organized according to the marketplace’s guidelines.

    6. How Do I Learn More About GS1 Supply Chain Standards and Product Identification?

    GS1 US offers resources, extensive education, and training options, many of which are free. Check out GS1 US Education and Training to explore webinars, guidance documents, videos, and more.

    Additionally, for users unfamiliar with GS1 US Data Hub, the tool provided to all members to manage GTINs and product data, there are videos and lessons for further learning.

    For a deeper dive into these topics more can be found on the GS1 US website.

    So there you have it. A comprehensive summary of GTINs and UPCs with links to a lot more details so you can make an informed decision of how best to use these in your business.

    As always, ask us anything. If we don’t know the answer, we’ll know someone who does!

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