global location number (EPC) (GLN)

The Electronic Product Code(EPC) knows several EPC identities for the unique identification of goods, transport units or services.

With the Global Location Number (GLN), created by Global Standard One( GS1) Germany, formerly European Article Number( EAN), and the Uniform Code Council, the local, functional or physical unit can be defined within the EPC data frame. This can be departments of companies, warehouses or salesrooms.

The Global Location Number is used in the Global Data Synchronization( GDS) and consists of 13 digits and indicates the trading location. The first seven digits are assigned to the company, the following five identify the trading location and the last digit forms the checksum. The GLN code can be used to identify an infinite number of products, trading partners and their locations. It supports the concerns of business to business( B2B) and business to consumer( B2C).