In today’s globalized supply chain, efficient logistics management and the optimization of transport processes are becoming increasingly important. This is because excellent communication and coordination are absolutely essential in a world where goods cross more borders than ever before.
In short, transport and logistics play a key role in modern supply chains. Thanks to voluntary, user-created standards, transport and logistics companies can operate more efficiently, at a lower cost, and in a more sustainable and competitive manner.
GS1 standards for the TSL industry
The basic standards and solutions implemented in the TSL sector are:
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Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC), which ensures the unique identification of logistics units and acts as a “license plate” for a logistics unit
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GS1 identification numbers recently introduced to the standard, which are particularly necessary for companies in the TSL sector
– Global Shipment Identification Number (GSIN)
– Global Identifier for Consignment Number (GINC)
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the standard GS1 logistics label, applied by the manufacturer and containing information necessary for the carrier
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standard electronic data interchange messages, in both EDIFACT and XML standards, to improve communication between a TSL company and its clients
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standard EPC/RFID tags enabling the encoding of individual shipment information and tracking the movement of that shipment via the EPC Global network.
Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) is a GS1 identifier used for the individual identification of logistics units. A logistics unit can be any combination of trade units, formatted together, for example, in a box, container, on a pallet, or in a truck – in cases where there is a need to manage individual units within the supply chain. The SSCC number enables the tracking of individual logistics units, making it a beneficial solution for monitoring orders and deliveries as well as for the automatic receipt of goods. The SSCC uniquely identifies logistics units such as cartons, crates, or pallets. Due to the fact that the SSCC is a unique number, it can be used as a control number that provides not only detailed information about the cargo content but can also be used as an element of EDI messages, such as a dispatch advice. Furthermore, by using the SSCC, a company has the ability to reliably verify information about complex cargo, which allows the sender to avoid the need to encode multiple pieces of shipment information on individual logistics unit labels. The SSCC allows for the linking of information contained in a barcode or an EPC/RFID tag with electronic documents. SSCC numbers comply with ISO standards (ISO/IEC 15459) regarding the identification and tracking of logistics units.
Global Shipment Identification Number (GSIN) is a number assigned by the cargo sender. It is a unique number identifying a logical grouping of physical units for the purposes of transport shipment. It can also be used by all partners in the transport chain as a communication reference, for example in EDI messages, as a shipment reference and/or the cargo sender’s waybill number. The GSIN number was proposed by the World Customs Organization (WCO) as an identifier suitable for representing the Unique Consignment Reference (UCR). The GSIN has been identified as a global GS1 identifier that can simply and comprehensively meet the requirements set by the WCO regarding the UCR. Thus, the GSIN number, as a global identification number for a grouping of transport units in trade, i.e., a shipment, fully meets the needs of customs organizations. Since the signing of a joint agreement between GS1 and WCO, GS1 Application Identifiers, including AI 402, have been adapted to the reported needs, and the GSIN is used primarily for identifying cargo in international trade as well as for customs purposes.
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 1/2011.