Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)

As the name implies, the GTIN helps automate the trading process – basically buying and selling. GTINs are therefore assigned to any item (product or service) that may be priced, or ordered, or invoiced at any point in any supply chain.

The GTIN is then used to to retrieve pre-defined information about the item. The key benefit is that information about the item can be retrieved about the product from the GTIN whether it is read in a GS1 BarCodes symbol, exchanged via a GS1 eCom message or accessed from the Global Data Synchronisation Network. 

For more information from GS1 about the fashion sector (Apparel, Shoes, Sport and Departement Stores) see: http://www.gs1.nl/mode-schoenen-sport-en-warenhuizen-2.html (only in Dutch).