Step 5: Manage/Validate UPC Product Data
UPC barcode symbols merely encode the numeric digits of the UPC (GTIN-12). The real UPC product data and pricing are stored in the databases of their respective retailer trading partners. To acquire UPC product data from their suppliers, Amazon, Wal-Mart, and other retailers establish portals or employ data templates.
Recording UPC product data so it can be shared with other industry tools and merchants is the last stage in implementing GTIN UPC. The global brand-managed site for UPC product data, GTIN.Cloud, is instantly accessible with all GS1 Barcode Services. It is wise to have UPC product data verified for accuracy before publishing to global registries because the GS1 standards and web tools do not permit the reuse or reassignment of GTINs..
Aside from access to GTIN.Cloud repository, another benefit of correctly licensing a UPC Company Prefix or GTIN is a limited subscription to an optional online tool called the Data Hub. The Data Hub is not used by retailers to actually research and discover suppliers’ products but rather to make sure a UPC is licensed to the actual brand supplier. GS1 has a future initiative, Verified by GS1, which will provide retailers validation services once broadly adopted. The limited access DOES NOT allow companies to export out their GTINs (GTIN-12/GTIN-14), so it is not recommended to use as your company’s sole repository. The GTIN.Cloud repository allows clients to export their data to GS1, Amazon, Google, and others.
As part of GS1 Barcode Service/Support packages, our GS1Barcode Consultants personally assist members in managing AND validating the information before published on GTIN.Cloud.
Click the linked arrow below to initiate the GS1 UPC Barcode process. Whereas Bar Code Graphics is the US authority that provides the actual .eps barcodes and implementation support, GS1 is the standards organization that primarily licenses Company Prefixes and GTINs.