GS1

What GS1 does

GS1 is an international not-for-profit association headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, established in 1974 to manage the global barcode standard that originated with the Universal Product Code (UPC). GS1 develops and maintains the global language of business for supply chain identification, capture, and data sharing, including identification keys (GTIN, GLN), barcodes (1D UPC/EAN and 2D QR codes/DataMatrix), EPC/RFID standards, GS1 Digital Link, and the Global Data Synchronisation Network (GDSN). The organisation's standards are scanned approximately 10 billion times daily worldwide, and it operates through a federation of over 100 local Member Organisations that administer the GS1 system in individual countries.

The company monetises primarily through the sale of unique GTIN barcode numbers to companies needing product identification for retail and supply chain purposes, recurring membership fees paid to local Member Organisations, and training and certification programmes. GS1 is currently driving the Sunrise 2027 industry-wide migration from 1D to 2D barcodes, which will enable digital product passports, batch-level traceability, targeted recalls, and enhanced consumer information access. The organisation is also a designated issuing agency for Unique Device Identification (UDI) regulations across more than 10 jurisdictions including the EU, USA, China, and Brazil, embedding its standards in healthcare and life sciences regulatory frameworks.

GS1 serves retailers, consumer goods manufacturers, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, healthcare providers, logistics operators, e-commerce platforms, and increasingly the construction and built environment sectors. Notable customers and partners include Tesco, Woolworths Group (BIG W), Amazon India, Reliance Retail, Google (Google Lens integration), Pfizer, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, Zebra Technologies, and the provincial government of Zhejiang (China). The 2026 expansion of the Chennai Development Centre underscores GS1's investment in AI-powered supply chain solutions and 2D migration support for the Asia-Pacific market.

Name

GS1

Legal name

GS1 AISBL

Website

https://gs1.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

GS1 is a Brussels-headquartered international non-profit association that develops and governs the global barcode and supply chain identification standards (GTIN, GDSN, EPC/RFID) used by millions of companies across 100+ countries and scanned 10 billion times daily.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supply Chain Identification Standards

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Product Master Data / GTM Content Management for Trade (SKU-to-HS mapping, attributes) (TLAEAOAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

ESG/Sustainability Reporting & Disclosure Platforms (EUABAEAB)

Keywords

• Supply chain standards
• Barcode identification systems
• Product data synchronization
• Trade item numbering
• Healthcare traceability standards

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Barcode/GTIN Number Sales: GS1 sells unique barcode numbers (GTINs) to companies that need to identify their products for retail and supply chain purposes. Companies must obtain GS1 barcode numbers to ensure their products can be scanned at point of sale globally.
2. Membership Fees: GS1 operates through a global network of Member Organisations. Companies join as members through local GS1 offices and pay membership fees that support the standards development and local implementation activities.
3. Training and Certification: GS1 offers training programs and certification for individuals and organisations implementing GS1 standards, including the GS1 Standards Development Certification program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

GS1 develops and maintains global standards for business communication and supply chain identification, including barcode symbologies (EAN/UPC, GS1 DataMatrix, ITF-14, GS1-128, GS1 QR), GTIN identifiers, EPC/RFID, and data exchange platforms such as GDSN (Global Data Synchronisation Network) and GS1 Digital Link. The organisation enables unique identification, automatic data capture, and sharing of product information across global supply chains for retail, healthcare, transport and logistics, and technical industries.

Product overview

GS1 offers a comprehensive standards-based platform for global supply chain identification, capture, and data sharing. The core offering consists of GS1 Standards including identification keys (GTIN, GLN), barcodes (1D and 2D), EPC/RFID, and data synchronisation (GDSN). Supporting services include Verified by GS1, Check Digit Calculator, and GPC Browser. The 2D Barcode initiative (Sunrise 2027) is transforming product barcodes globally. GS1 India operates specialised platforms including DataKart, Smart Consumer App, and ClickIt for regional supply chain solutions. The portfolio enables companies to identify products uniquely, capture data via barcodes/RFID, and share standardised information across trading partners through the GDSN network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) A globally unique identifier assigned to trade items (products and services) so that they can be identified unambiguously in barcodes, GDSN, EPC/RFID and other GS1 data exchanges.
• GS1 Barcode Standards (EAN/UPC, ITF-14, GS1 DataMatrix, GS1-128, GS1 QR Code) Family of barcode symbologies for automatic data capture on trade items (EAN/UPC), trade items in distribution (ITF-14, GS1-128), and logistics/assets (GS1 DataMatrix, GS1 QR Code).
• EPC / RFID Standards Electronic Product Code standards for RFID tagging that allow individual items, returnable assets and shipments to be uniquely identified and tracked across supply chains.
• GDSN (Global Data Synchronisation Network) An interoperable network of certified data pools that allows trading partners to share standardised, always-up-to-date product master data such as dimensions, descriptions, classifications and images.
• GS1 Digital Link A standard that lets GS1 barcodes carry a web-resolvable URI so that consumers and supply chain partners can access rich product information online from a single scan.
• Verified by GS1 A global lookup service that lets users verify that a GTIN is valid and licensed, and view the product data registered against it by the brand owner.
• GPC (Global Product Classification) A standard product taxonomy and classification system used to group products consistently across GDSN, retail and other GS1 data exchanges.
• GS1 Healthcare Standards (UDI) Specialised GS1 standards supporting Unique Device Identification (UDI), pharmaceutical traceability and patient safety, mandated by regulators in more than 10 countries.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 billion barcode scans daily worldwide
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Manufacturers' Information Hub (MIH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026MIH launched a proof-of-concept project for pan-European manufacturer-led system enabling standardised, interoperable sharing of construction product information. The initiative supports over 430,000 construction product manufacturers in Europe to comply with safety and environmental regulations, with participation from major UK companies including Tata Steel UK, Knauf, and Kier.
• KezzlercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Kezzler and GS1 Mexico launched a joint pilot program to help SMEs achieve compliance with FDA's FSMA Section 204 (Food Traceability Rule). The pilot leverages GS1 global standards and Kezzler's cloud-based EPCIS repository to digitize supply chain traceability for participating brands lacking internal IT infrastructure.
• Sigma Technology Solutions GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Sigma Technology partnered with GS1 Sweden to promote adoption of GS1 standards and digital product passports, aiming to enhance data exchange, traceability, and regulatory compliance across manufacturing and retail industries.
• AmazonflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026GS1 and Amazon presented together at PACK EXPO East on Sunrise 2027, with Amazon's Transparency program demonstrating how unit-level serialization can consolidate multiple pack codes into a single GS1-compliant 2D barcode, enabling surgical-precision recalls, theft prevention, and supply chain visibility.
• GooglecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2025GS1 collaboration with Google enabling scanning of GS1 DataMatrix barcodes on medicines via Google Lens, allowing users to access trusted product information including batch number and expiry date. This global collaboration aims to improve healthcare transparency and patient safety. The technology is available on Android devices with iOS support coming.
• KPMGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025KPMG and GS1 produced a joint report based on a survey of 7,000 consumers across 14 Asia-Pacific markets, identifying six key trends shaping the future of retail and seamless commerce. Key findings include Gen Z driving change and 65% of consumers willing to pay premium for sustainable products.
• Zhejiang Province (China)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Zhejiang Province in China established the world's first GM2D (Global Migration to 2D) demonstration area with GS1 support, promoting adoption of 2D barcode technology globally by 2027 and improving supply chain efficiency and food safety through the Zhejiang Food Traceability Chain digital project.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Avery Dennison: Avery Dennison is a major global manufacturer of labels and RFID inlays that implement GS1 standards. It is a supply-chain partner rather than competitor, but is materially exposed to the same Sunrise 2027 and Digital Product Passport tailwinds.
• Zebra Technologies: Zebra Technologies provides barcode scanners, RFID readers, and printing solutions that consume GS1 standards. It is a solution partner member of GS1 Healthcare and serves overlapping enterprise retail and healthcare customers.
• ISO (International Organization for Standardization): ISO develops and publishes international standards across all industries. It is comparable to GS1 as a parallel global standards-development body, though ISO's scope is far broader and covers industries beyond supply chain identification.

Direct peers

• TraceLink: TraceLink provides pharmaceutical supply chain serialization and traceability solutions built on GS1 standards for DSCSA, Falsified Medicines Directive, and other regulations. It directly competes with GS1-enabled EPCIS networks in pharma traceability.
• GSMA: GSMA is the global industry organization representing mobile network operators, similar in structure to GS1 as a non-profit, member-driven standards body enabling interoperability across an industry vertical at massive global scale.
• Optel Group: Optel provides track-and-trace and supply chain visibility solutions for pharmaceuticals and other regulated industries, leveraging GS1 standards. It addresses overlapping pharma serialization and Digital Product Passport use cases.
• AIM (Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility): AIM is the global industry trade association for automatic identification and mobility technologies (barcodes, RFID, mobile computing). It serves as a peer standards-body ecosystem counterpart to GS1, addressing adjacent identification standards and member categories.

Emerging players

• Circulor: Circulor provides blockchain-based supply chain traceability for raw materials, EV batteries, and electronics. It addresses overlapping Digital Product Passport and EU Battery Regulation use cases that GS1 also serves, though with different technology.
• ODIN (Open Design & Identification Network): ODIN provides RFID solutions and smart labels for inventory and asset tracking across healthcare, retail, and logistics. It overlaps with GS1's EPC/RFID standards in healthcare and retail traceability use cases.
• Amazon Transparency: Amazon's Transparency program provides unit-level serialization for product authentication. While it uses GS1-compliant codes, it represents a retailer-led platform that could partially compete with GS1's standards primacy in consumer-facing transparency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gs1
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqvdT8XOi6qYAKs6LdNTVKw
• Facebookfacebook.com/GS1org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gs1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GS1