Carton Numbering
Third party applications can provide carton numbers to PortalApp or this could be left blank and PortalApp will generate a carton number. If PortalApp generates the carton number, however, the third party application must store this number as it will be mandatory for processing an carton update or delete procedure.Third party applications that generate label numbers should follow the GS1 -128 standard convention. A full explanation is provided below, but in summary:-
- 19 digit number (normally the 20th digit is a check digit number, but if you leave that off, PortalApp will append it)
- Starts with 4 leading 0’s
- First half is the vendor’s GS1 prefix (see below)
- 2nd half is a counter, NEVER repeat
The combination of the prefix and the counter makes these numbers globally unique.
If leading 0’sare not provided, PortalApp will add them back in. So a valid values would be:-
Red 1’s represent the vendor’s GS1 prefix, blue represents is the counter, incrementing for each label.**
What is a GS1 prefix?
Given by the GS1. It is a 6-10 digit code that you use to assign a UPC-12 code to your products in order for those products to be scanned/soldHow can I acquire a GS1 prefix? Go to the GS1 website and fill out the forms required**
What is a GS1-128 / SSCC / SSCC-18 / Serial Shipping Container Code
The EAN.UCC System also defines a method of serializing cartons (Serial Shipping Container Code or SSCC), so the contents can be traced to a specific line item (or items) on a specific purchase order. The standard format for serializing cartons and shipping containers is an 18 digit number encoded in UCC/EAN-128 symbology shown in the following illustration. This number is not generally added to the box or container until the time of shipment.
Serial numbering of cartons provides unique identification. This is important, especially to identify cartons containing variable quantities or non-standard mixtures of product and as a reference number for EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) transactions. When used in conjunction with EDI, serial numbering cartons and shipping containers eliminates the need to physically inspect the contents of every carton. Eliminating this procedure has improved the productivity of some warehouse receiving operations by 100% or more!
The Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) is different from the EAN/UCC-14 assigned to intermediate packs and shipping containers of consumer units. The same EAN/UCC-14 is assigned to all identical packaging configurations of the same product. The Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) is a unique number assigned to each carton as it is shipped. Because it is unique, it can be used as a reference number tying the contents of a specific carton to information about the shipment including the purchase order(s) it should be applied to, carrier, date of shipment, etc. It is used in conjunction with the EDI 856 Advance Shipping Notice (ASN).
The 18 digit number consists of the following items:
