Serialisation is the process or action of identifying something in a serial format, for “unique identification" it is the process of generating and applying codes or serial numbers that can be used to uniquely identify each individual instance of a given entity. The "serial number" (which can be numeric or alphanumeric in form) is assigned to an individual instance of an entity for its lifetime, they can be sequentially or randomly generated and can be represented in human readable form (e.g. alpha-numeric text) and/or machine readable form (e.g. encoded with a GS1 barcode or RFID EPC tag).
An individual trade item may be identified uniquely with the combination of a Global Trade Item Number (or “GTIN” for the base product identification) and serial number (for the unique instance of that base product). Serialisation makes it possible to trace individual products as they move through the supply chain.
The following GS1 Identification Keys have serialisation as an optional element:
- Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) ,
- Global Coupon Number (GCN),
- Global Returnable Asset Identifier (GRAI),
- Global Document Type Identifier (GDTI),
- Global Document Type Identifier (GDTI),
- Component/Part Identifier (CPID).
There are also GS1 Keys that identify a specific instance:
- Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC),
Global Individual Asset Identifier (GIAI), - Global Shipment Identification Number (GSIN),
- Global Identification Number for Consignment (GINC),
- Global Location Number (GLN) (through GLN extension Component AI (254),
- Global Service Relation Number (GSRN)
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