GroovePacker supports scanning and recording data from GS1-128 barcodes, including the ability to verify products using the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) while also capturing additional information such as lot numbers, serial numbers, manufacturing dates, expiration dates, and best buy dates. This functionality is especially valuable for food, pharmaceutical, medical, and compliance-focused operations that require detailed product traceability and reporting.
What is a GS1-128 Barcode?
A GS1-128 barcode is a flexible barcode format capable of storing multiple types of information inside a single barcode string. Unlike standard UPC barcodes that typically only contain a product identifier, GS1-128 barcodes can include additional operational and compliance data such as lot numbers, serial numbers, and date information.
GS1-128 barcodes use what are called “Application Identifiers” (AIs) to define what each section of the barcode represents. For example, AI “01” identifies the GTIN or product barcode, AI “10” identifies a lot or batch number, and AI “21” identifies a serial number. Other commonly used identifiers include “11” for manufacturing date, “15” for best buy date, and “17” for expiration date.
A barcode may visually appear like this:
(01)40614141006364(15)220101(10)A1B2C3D4
However, when scanned with a barcode scanner, the brackets are typically removed and the scanner outputs a continuous string such as:
01406141410063641522010110A1B2C3D4
How GroovePacker Uses GS1-128 Barcodes
GroovePacker uses the GTIN portion of the GS1 barcode for scan verification during the packing workflow. Specifically, the system looks for the GTIN associated with AI “01” and verifies it against the product expected on the order.
Once the GTIN is verified, GroovePacker can also extract and record additional data embedded within the barcode. This allows operations to maintain product traceability without requiring multiple scans or separate manual entry steps.
Currently, we focus on supporting the most commonly used GS1-128 structures. One supported format is a GTIN combined with a Lot or Batch number:
(01)GTIN(10)LOT
Another supported structure includes a GTIN, a date value, and a Lot number:
(01)GTIN(15)BestBuyDate(10)LOT
The date values can represent manufacturing dates, best buy dates, or expiration dates depending on the application identifier used. These dates use the YYMMDD format.
Setup Instructions for GS1-128 Products
Unlike standard barcodes, GS1-128 barcodes contain additional dynamic information beyond the product identifier itself. Because of this, GS1-128 barcodes should not typically be scanned directly into the Product Barcode field during product setup.
For standard barcode workflows, users can often scan a product barcode directly into GroovePacker and save the scanned value as the Product Barcode. With GS1-128 barcodes, this approach may not work correctly because the full barcode can contain changing information such as lot numbers, serial numbers, expiration dates, or manufacturing dates, while the GTIN itself remains constant for the product.
Instead, the system expects the Product Barcode field to contain only the 14-digit GTIN value. When scanning a GS1-128 barcode during fulfillment, GroovePacker automatically recognizes the “01” Application Identifier and extracts the GTIN internally for verification.
Extracting the GTIN from a GS1-128 Barcode
If you do not already have a list of your GTIN values, you can extract them from the full GS1-128 barcode.
For example, a scanner may output the following barcode string:
01406141410063641522010110A1B2C3D4
Here is how this value is structured:
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 01 | GTIN identifier |
| 40614141006364 | 14-digit GTIN |
| 15 | Best Buy Date identifier |
| 220101 | Best Buy Date |
| 10 | Lot/Batch identifier |
| A1B2C3D4 | Lot Number |
In this example, the value that should be saved in GroovePacker as the Product Barcode is:
40614141006364
The remaining values are additional GS1 barcode data used for traceability and reporting.
Steps to Extract the GTIN
Step 1: Scan the Barcode Into a Text Field
Scan the GS1-128 barcode into a text editor, spreadsheet, or other text field so you can view the full barcode string output from the scanner.
Example scanned value:
01406141410063641522010110A1B2C3D4
Step 2: Locate the “01” Application Identifier
The first two digits, 01, identify the GTIN portion of the barcode.
Step 3: Copy the Next 14 Digits
The 14 digits immediately following 01 are the GTIN value that should be saved in GroovePacker as the Product Barcode.
Example:
01 40614141006364
GTIN to save:
40614141006364
Step 4: Save or Import the GTIN into GroovePacker
Use only the 14-digit GTIN value when importing products or saving the Product Barcode in GroovePacker.
Do not save the full GS1-128 barcode string.
After importing or saving your products using the 14-digit GTIN as the Product Barcode, you can test your setup by scanning a full GS1-128 barcode during fulfillment. If configured correctly, GroovePacker should successfully validate the product using the GTIN while also automatically recording additional GS1 values such as lot numbers, serial numbers, and date information.
Serial Number Recording Support
In addition to lot and date tracking, GroovePacker also supports recording serial numbers from GS1-128 barcodes using AI “21”. When a barcode containing a serial number is scanned, GroovePacker verifies the GTIN and automatically captures the serial number for reporting and traceability purposes.
For example:
(01)40614141006364(21)SN-12345-ABC
The system supports both short and long serial numbers, including values that contain hyphens. This makes the feature compatible with many real-world product with serial formats commonly used in manufacturing and regulated industries.
Exporting GS1 Barcode Data
GroovePacker can export captured GS1 barcode information so that businesses can maintain detailed fulfillment records logs. This allows companies to tie shipped orders back to the exact lot, batch, or serial number that was fulfilled. For businesses operating in regulated industries, this can be especially important for quality control, recall management, and compliance reporting.
GS1-128 Workflow in GroovePacker
A typical workflow using GS1-128 barcodes in GroovePacker begins when the user scans the barcode during fulfillment. GroovePacker first verifies the GTIN against the expected order item. Once verified, the system automatically extracts any additional supported values embedded within the barcode, such as lot numbers, serial numbers, expiration dates, or manufacturing dates.
The order can then be completed normally, while the captured traceability data becomes available for exports and reporting. This creates an efficient scan-and-pack workflow that maintains operational accuracy while also supporting compliance and reporting requirements.
Need Help Configuring GS1-128?
If your operation uses GS1-128 barcodes and you would like assistance configuring scanning in GroovePacker, please contact the GroovePacker Support Team.