A GTIN is like a unique fingerprint for each product, allowing it to be easily identified anywhere in the world. It's used for items sold, ordered, or invoiced at any stage, from manufacturing to the store shelves.
Unique Codes for Different Packages: Every level of product packaging, from a single item to a big box of items, gets its own GTIN. This helps keep track of the product through its journey in the supply chain.
Types of GTINs
Walmart uses several GTIN formats, including:
Consumable GTIN
The Consumable GTIN is assigned to individual selling units, which are the smallest units of a product that can be purchased by a consumer. Consumable GTINs are used to identify products as they are scanned at the point of sale, making them essential for retail operations. For example, a bottle of shampoo, a pack of batteries, or a box of cereal each would have its own Consumable GTIN to uniquely identify the product across retail systems and supply chains.
Inner Pack GTIN
The Inner Pack GTIN is used for a group of individual selling units that are packaged together but not intended for individual sale. These are often referred to as "break packs" because they can be broken down into individual consumable units for retail sale. Inner Pack GTINs facilitate inventory management and order fulfillment processes, especially in scenarios where products are shipped in bulk but sold individually. For instance, a case containing several packs of toothpaste tubes, where each pack is not sold separately but is a convenient quantity for retailers to stock shelves.
Orderable GTIN
The orderable GTIN is assigned to the vendor pack configuration of a case. This is the case that a supplier will use to ship product to Walmart. This is required to be applied to the vendor pack carton using a supply chain barcode that includes ITF-14 or GS1-128 formats. This GTIN is often referred to as GTIN-14.
How to Create a GTIN
Creating a GTIN starts with a unique number given by GS1, an organization that sets these standards globally. The GTIN is made up of:
- The supplier's unique company number.
- A product number they choose.
- A check digit that makes sure the GTIN is correct.
Barcodes and GTINs are essential for ensuring your products can be tracked to Walmart's shelves, avoiding mix-ups, and keeping everything organized.
What is the ITF-14 Orderable GTIN Barcode?
The ITF-14 Orderable GTIN Barcode is a specific type of barcode used to encode the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) associated with items as they move through the supply chain. It is designed to facilitate the tracking and management of products, particularly in bulk or wholesale contexts.
What Do Suppliers Use It For?
Suppliers use the ITF-14 barcode primarily for:
Product Identification: The ITF-14 barcode uniquely identifies vendor pack cases, which contain multiple selling units of a product. This is essential when shipping to distribution centers, fulfillment centers, consolidation centers, and direct store delivery points.
Supply Chain Efficiency: It ensures products are efficiently processed, tracked, and managed throughout the entire supply chain, from the supplier to Walmart's retail outlets.
Compliance: Adhering to Walmart's requirements for product identification and packaging, enabling smoother operations, and reducing the risk of shipment rejections or processing delays.
Specifications Required
Walmart has set forth specific requirements for the ITF-14 Orderable GTIN barcode to ensure uniformity and scanning reliability:
- Barcode Format: Acceptable in ITF-14 format, one of two formats Walmart approves for conveying the GTIN.
- Print Quality: Must meet or exceed ANSI standard grade B for GTIN and print-and-apply barcodes. When printed directly on a corrugated board, it should meet or exceed grade C.
- Size: The barcode must comply with the GS1 standard, with a minimum size of 3 inches in length and 3/4 inches in height.
- Location: Positioned at least 3/4 inch from the case wall's edge and 1.25 inches from the bottom of the case. For cartons under 2.25 inches tall, the barcode should be centered.
- White Space (Quiet Zone): A minimum of 0.25 inches of white space is required on the printed bars' left and right sides, relative to the barcode's overall size.
- Scannability: The barcode must be scannable through any plastic film without being obstructed by seams or bullet holes.
- Label Surface: Print and apply labels must remain flat, without smudging, when contacted by other surfaces.
In addition to these specifications, PDQ displays require two 14-digit case GTIN barcodes, and bearer bars around the GTIN barcode are recommended for enhanced scanning reliability.
GS1-128 Barcode
The GS1-128 barcode, also known as the data carrier, serves as a global standard for exchanging information between different companies. It not only stores data but also explains what that data means using special codes called Application Identifiers (AI). Think of it as a smart barcode that speaks the same language everywhere it goes.
Walmart's Utilization of GS1-128 Barcode
Walmart is expanding its implementation of data identification and capture methods in alignment with various industry sectors throughout its supply chain. The adoption and integration of GS1-128 barcode within Walmart's ecosystem are already in place for Regional Suppliers in the DSDC Program, Grocery Suppliers for the Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI), Meat, Poultry, and Seafood packaging, DSD Suppliers, as well as Healthcare Suppliers for the Drug Supply Chain (DSCSA) and Unique Device Identification (UDI) endeavors.
Applications of GS1-128 Barcode at Walmart
Supplier Pack (Orderable) GTIN Conveyance:
Mandatory for Dept 93 (Meat, Poultry, and Seafood cartons).
Mandatory for Dept 94 (Produce cartons).
Mandatory for Dept 38 (Prescription Pharmaceutical cartons).
Optional for all other departments.
Additional data fields may be added into the GS1-128 barcode by suppliers at their discretion.
As an SSCC-18 Logistics Unit Identifier:
Required on all shipping/pallet labels with exceptions for GNFR items, DSV shipments, and WFS shipments.
Physical Attributes of GS1-128 Barcode
Bearer Bars: Recommended but not mandatory.
Scannability: Barcodes must be scannable by equipment within the Walmart supply chain.
Print Quality: Must meet or exceed ANSI standard grade B or higher for print-and-apply barcodes. Directly printed barcodes on corrugated board must meet or exceed ANSI standard grade C.
Size: Must comply with GS1 standards, with a minimum size of 3" L x .75" H for GS1-128.
Location: GTIN must be positioned at least 3/4" from the edge of the case wall and 1.25" from the bottom of the case. If the carton height is less than 2.25" tall, the barcode may be centered.
White Space: Minimum of 0.25" of white space, also known as the Quiet Zone, required on each end of the printed GTIN.
Barcode Visibility: Must be scannable through any applied plastic films. Not allowed to be applied under a plastic seam or bullet hole.
Label Surface: Print and apply labels must maintain a flat surface.
Ink Resilience: Ink applied to plastic film or any other materials must not smear when contacted by another surface.