Every day, products move faster, farther, and through more hands than ever before, and accuracy in identifying and tracking goods has become a critical competitive advantage. That’s where GS1 standards and automatic capture technologies come in. From retail shelves to international shipping containers, the ability to capture and share product information instantly keeps the global supply chain running smoothly.
If you manufacture, distribute, or sell physical goods, these standards likely apply to you, and integrating them into your systems can transform the way you work.
What Are GS1 Standards?
GS1 is a global, non-profit organization that develops and maintains a set of standards for identifying, capturing, and sharing product information. You’ve already seen them in action, most commonly in the form of barcodes on everyday items.
However, GS1 goes far beyond the grocery store checkout. These standards cover everything from Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) for individual products to Serial Shipping Container Codes (SSCCs) for pallets and shipping units, as well as electronic data exchange formats for supply chain partners.
At the heart of GS1 standards is the goal of creating a universal language for business. Whether a pallet of goods is scanned in a Chicago warehouse or a distribution hub in Singapore, the data behind that scan has the same meaning for everyone involved. This consistency enables seamless communication across the supply chain, regardless of geography, industry, or technology platform.
Who Must Adhere to GS1 Standards?
While GS1 compliance is often associated with large multinational brands, its relevance extends to businesses of all sizes. Manufacturers that export products, distributors serving major retailers, and logistics companies handling cross-border shipments all rely on these identifiers to ensure accuracy and traceability.
Even small or mid-sized companies can benefit. Suppose you sell to retailers that require GS1-compliant barcodes or operate in an industry with strict traceability requirements, such as aerospace, automotive, or textiles. In that case, you’ll need to implement these standards to stay competitive. As automation becomes more common in warehousing and logistics, more trading partners are making GS1 compliance a condition for doing business.
Is GS1 Necessary for the Global Supply Chain?
The global supply chain is a complex web of suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, carriers, and retailers, often spread across multiple countries and regulatory environments. Without standardized product identifiers, the risk of mislabeling, shipping delays, and costly errors skyrockets.
GS1 standards ensure that every product, case, and pallet can be identified unambiguously, no matter where it is in the world. This allows for:
- Faster, more accurate transactions between supply chain partners.
- Better traceability in the event of recalls or quality concerns.
- Streamlined customs and compliance processes, reducing delays at borders.
- Improved data accuracy, which supports forecasting, inventory management, and customer service.
When paired with automatic capture technology like barcode scanners or RFID readers, GS1 standards enable instant, error-free data collection, reducing reliance on manual entry and freeing teams to focus on higher-value work.
Will It Change My Product Labeling Process?
Adopting GS1 standards often means rethinking how product labels are designed and printed. Instead of generic or proprietary codes, labels must now include standardized identifiers, such as GTINs, encoded in a GS1-approved barcode format or embedded in RFID tags.
For some businesses, this transition is straightforward: updating label templates, ensuring printers support GS1-compliant formats, and training staff on new scanning processes. For others, especially those producing a wide range of products, it may require a more significant shift in labeling workflows.
Automatic capture plays a central role here. By designing labels that can be read instantly by scanners, you eliminate many of the errors that creep in with manual data entry. Each scan verifies the accuracy of the product ID, lot number, and other key data before goods leave the facility, reducing costly rework and returns.
Are GS1 Standards Compatible with Frontier ERP?
One of the most common concerns for businesses considering GS1 adoption is whether it will disrupt existing systems. With Frontier ERP, integration is not only possible but highly advantageous via secure data transfers. Frontier’s robust product database can store GS1 identifiers alongside existing product data, ensuring that every item in your catalog is correctly linked to its unique global ID.
Once integrated, GS1-compliant data flows seamlessly from labeling to inventory to order fulfillment. Labels can be generated directly from the ERP system, and automatic capture at receiving, picking, or shipping stations feeds data back into Frontier in real time. This creates a single-source, closed-loop system where product movement is tracked and verified without redundant entry or manual reconciliation.
Benefits of Frontier ERP and Global Supply Chain Product Identification
When GS1 standards and automatic capture technology are paired with Frontier ERP, the benefits extend across your business:
- End-to-end traceability: Track products from production to delivery with complete confidence in the accuracy of your data.
- Operational efficiency: Reduce bottlenecks in warehousing and shipping by automating product identification and verification.
- Compliance readiness: Meet retailer, regulatory, and industry requirements without scrambling to reformat labels or update records.
- Improved customer satisfaction: Faster, more accurate shipments mean fewer errors and returns, which translates into better service and stronger relationships.
- Data-driven decision-making: Combine GS1-compliant product data with Frontier ERP’s reporting and analytics tools for deeper insights into supply chain performance.
Attend Our Live Webinar with Stratum Global
Want to see how GS1 product identifiers and automatic capture work together in real-world manufacturing? Join our live webinar with Stratum Global on August 21, 2025, at 1 PM CDT / 2 PM ET.
Stratum supports GS1-compliant IDs, including EPC GTINs for RFID, and its TagNet solution has delivered EPC compliance for years. In this session, you’ll learn how manufacturers are using RFID to track materials in real time, eliminate manual scanning, and improve material flow across the global supply chain.
🔗 Register Now — Can’t attend live? Sign up anyway to receive the recording.
Final Thoughts
If your products are part of a supply chain that extends beyond your own warehouse, GS1 standards and automatic capture are necessary. They provide the common language that the global supply chain depends on, ensuring that every item is correctly identified, tracked, and delivered. By integrating these standards into Frontier ERP, you not only meet compliance requirements but also gain a powerful tool for improving efficiency, accuracy, and competitiveness.
The question isn’t whether GS1 standards apply to you; it’s how soon you can start reaping their benefits. Do you have questions about how to incorporate GS1 standards into your Frontier ERP system? Contact us today and we’d be happy to help!
