If your products carry GS-128 barcodes with lot numbers, serial numbers, expiration dates, or other traceability data, you've probably noticed ShipStation can't read that information during scanning. The good news is you don't need to replace ShipStation to fix this.

ShipStation keeps managing your orders and shipping labels. GroovePacker integrates with ShipStation to add GS-128 scanning and data capture to the packing process, so your team can start using the information already encoded in those barcodes without changing how you manage orders.

Can ShipStation Scan GS-128 Barcodes?

Not on its own. A GS-128 barcode can hold far more than a standard product identifier. Depending on how it's built, it may include:
• GTIN-14 product identifier
• Lot or batch number
• Serial number
• Manufacturing date
• Best buy date
• Expiration date
• Quantity information

ShipStation doesn't have a workflow built to interpret and separate out all of that during fulfillment. GroovePacker does, while ShipStation keeps handling order management and shipping.

How the Integration Works

The key is the GTIN-14 embedded inside the GS-128 barcode. A GS-128 barcode might look like this:

(01)40614141006364(15)220101(10)A1B2C3D4




Each segment has a specific meaning:
• 01 — identifies a GTIN
• 40614141006364 — the 14-digit GTIN itself
• 15 — identifies a best buy date
• 220101 — the date
• 10 — identifies a lot or batch number
• A1B2C3D4 — the lot number

The GTIN identifies the product. Everything else in the barcode can change from unit to unit or batch to batch. Because of that, you'll store just the 14-digit GTIN, not the full GS-128 string, as the product's barcode in ShipStation.

Setting It Up

Step 1: Save the GTIN-14 in ShipStation
Enter the product's 14-digit GTIN in the same barcode field you'd normally use. If your GS-128 barcode contains (01)40614141006364, save 40614141006364 as the product barcode, not the full GS-128 string. GroovePacker uses this GTIN to match the product when it imports your ShipStation orders.

Step 2: Import Your ShipStation Orders Into GroovePacker
No need to change anything about how you use ShipStation. GroovePacker pulls in your existing ShipStation orders and adds a scanning layer for your warehouse team on top of the order management you already have.

Step 3: Scan the Full GS-128 Barcode in GroovePacker
During packing, your team scans the actual GS-128 barcode on the product, the whole thing, not just the GTIN. GroovePacker recognizes the GS-128 structure, finds the GTIN using Application Identifier 01, and checks it against the product expected on the order. Your team never has to worry about which part of the barcode to scan.

Step 4: Capture the Additional GS-128 Data
Once the product's verified, GroovePacker can also pull out the other information encoded in that same scan: lot or batch numbers, serial numbers, manufacturing and expiration dates, quantity, whatever the barcode carries. One scan does both jobs, verifying the product and capturing the traceability data. That data flows into GroovePacker's reporting and exports, so you can connect a shipped order back to the specific lot, batch, or serial number involved.


TLDR


You don't have to give up ShipStation to use GS-128 barcodes. The workflow:

1. Store the product's GTIN-14 in ShipStation.
2. Import your ShipStation orders into GroovePacker.
3. Scan the full GS-128 barcode during packing.
4. GroovePacker verifies the GTIN.
5. GroovePacker captures the rest of the encoded data.
6. Export order data for a date range when you need to trace a lot, batch, or serial number.
ShipStation keeps running your orders and shipping. GroovePacker adds the scanning, verification, and traceability your warehouse floor actually needs.

Using GS-128 barcodes in your ShipStation workflow? Reach out to GroovePacker Support and we'll help you get it configured.