Gs1 128

GS1-128 is a GS1 application standard built on the Code 128 barcode symbology, used primarily for logistics and supply-chain data encoding rather than retail point-of-sale scanning. It uses Application Identifiers (AIs) and the FNC1 character to structure data so scanners and software can interpret fields such as GTIN, SSCC, lot/batch number, serial number, expiration date, weight, and country of origin.

On the shop floor, GS1-128 labels appear on cartons, cases, pallets, and other logistic units moving through receiving, putaway, line-side replenishment, pick/pack, and dispatch. A typical manufacturing or warehousing process scans the barcode at each handoff to identify the exact unit, its contents, and traceability attributes without keyboard entry. The most valuable application is the GS1 transport label, where the SSCC identifies the logistic unit and enables automated pallet capture across warehouse and carrier transfers. For raw-material and finished-goods traceability, the same symbol can encode lot/batch, best-before/expiration, and serial data directly on pack or pallet, improving inventory visibility and recall readiness. In practice, this reduces manual entry, speeds dock-to-stock, and helps ERP/WMS systems reconcile received quantities against purchase orders while keeping a clear digital trail from production through shipment.