GS1 Digital Link
What is GS1 Digital Link?
The GS1 Digital Link standard was developed to enable brands, retailers and stakeholders throughout the supply chain and beyond to meet this demand. It extends the power and flexibility of GS1 identifiers such as the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) by making them part of the web.
This means that GS1 standards that are already used by 90 per cent of UK brands and retailers can now act as a gateway to online content that can strengthen brand loyalty, improve supply chain traceability information, include business partner APIs, patient safety information, and much more.
The true power of GS1 Digital Link is its flexibility, enabling connections to all types of business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) information. If you’re adding a QR code to a product using the GS1 Digitial Link standard, you’re not only providing a URL for people to scan, you’re also encoding GS1 identifiers – the very same identifiers that are relied upon throughout industry. This allows brand owners to retain full control while linking to any number of information sources from one symbol, saving packaging real estate and improving efficiency.
How does it work?
The GS1 Digital Link standard can be used with any type of 2D barcode. In most instances this will be either a data matrix or QR code. The 2D barcode code is embedded with a GS1 Digital Link, a unique sequence of characters that identifies a logical or physical resource used by web technologies – essentially a website URL with a product GTIN added onto the end.
Brands can choose to add additional levels of granularity by including subsequent identifiers within the data string of the URL. This could include a product’s batch and lot numbers, or, for serialised products, an individual item code or serial number.
GS1 Digital Link also allows apps and scanners to connect to specific user experiences by using additional data in a barcode to access specific information.
Resolvers
While Digital Link provides users with answers to their questions by consulting multiple resources, users will often want those resources to be directly relevant to them. What language does the user speak? For which country do they need information? The number of possible links to related information for a single item can quickly multiply. This means GS1 Digital Link needs to have rules in place that guide users to the most relevant content.
To achieve this, Digital Link uses a 'resolver'. Designed as ‘path finders’ rather than sources of information, resolvers redirect a request from one server to another. To put it simply, they can ‘resolve’ GS1 identifiers to one or more sources of information about an identified item.
For example, a resolver could link the GTIN stored within a URI to show traceability, nutritional or sustainability information about a food or drink product. For hardware, it could link to things like instruction manuals or how-to videos. At the same time, the resolver can link an identified item to information for business partners such as recall status APIs, master data, hazardous handling instructions and more.
Links to those information sources can be updated at any time, perhaps pointing to limited-time promotions or important updates. This means your barcode can work harder, acting as a gateway to unlimited resources to support your B2B and B2C goals.
Getting Started
1. Pre-Printed Product (Artwork) Packaging
Products that will use only the Base URL, Product Key & Product GTIN may be printed as part of the product packaging artwork as the information is static data printed without the need for additional production data information.
What changes do you need to make? Update packaging artwork
2. On-Demand Variable Data Printing
Products that require unique product information such as Serial Number or production data such as Batch/LOT number, Expiry Date or Packaging Date added to the barcode at time of print require solutions that can print on-demand using either operator-based programs or integrated solutions driven by business systems such as ERP, MES or WMS.
What changes do you need to make?
1. Software
You need to add or make changes to the templates carrying the new 2D barcode required to include the base URL and new GS1 identifiers and integrate with your business systems or ERPs. Quality system users or regulatory compliance users will also require approval processes before templates can be used in production printing applications.
Is it time to review your labelling and print management software requirements?
Once you have updated and approved your templates and printing solutions, test print the new barcodes with your current printers, check they are scannable by your hand held scanners and mobile phone devices.
2. Printers
Can your printer print scannable 2D barcodes in the space available?, do you need to increase the printhead resolution to print and apply compact 2D barcodes in the limited space available?
Is it time to review your label or marking printers?
Dont wait until its too late. Book your free consultation and let us help you discover what changes you need to make to either or both software and printers, the sooner you get started the sooner you can realise the benefits of GS1 Digital Link.