GS1 India

What GS1 India does

GS1 India is a not-for-profit supply chain standards organisation established in 1998 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry alongside CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, BIS, APEDA, IMC, FIEO, IIP, and the Spices Board of India. It is the sole authorised issuer of GS1 barcodes with the '890' country prefix in India, and operates as one of 116 member organisations within the global GS1 network spanning 150+ countries. The organisation serves retailers, FMCG companies, pharmaceutical and healthcare players, food and agricultural producers, logistics providers, defence, construction, and MSMEs, with marquee customers including Reliance Retail, Nestle India, BigBasket, Serum Institute of India, and Roche Diabetes Care India.

The product architecture is platform-plus-modules, centred on DataKart — India's national product data repository holding 50+ million SKUs uploaded directly by brand owners. Around it sit DataKart Premium (API/ERP integration, QR generation, label modules), DataKart Trace (serialised end-to-end traceability), DataKart for Retailers/Brand Owners/Solution Providers (stakeholder-specific portals), plus the consumer-facing Smart Consumer app, the ClickIt product-cataloguing app, and the Verified by GS1 authenticity service. Underlying technology is built on GS1 standards: GTIN, GLN, SSCC, GS1 DataMatrix (2D barcodes used in 75+ countries for pharma serialisation), GS1 Digital Link QR codes, EPC/RFID, GDSN for master data, and EDI.

GS1 India generates revenue through annual GTIN/barcode subscriptions (with multi-year discounts and MSME reimbursement reducing realised pricing), Global Company Prefix licensing, DataKart Premium subscriptions, one-time Solution Provider registration fees, and E-learning subscriptions. The go-to-market is direct and digital-first (gs1form.org and gs1datakart.org), supplemented by a registered Solution Provider network spanning barcode, authentication, RFID, retail software, and packaging categories, and government-partnered schemes for micro-enterprises.

Name

GS1 India

Legal name

GS1 India

Website

https://gs1india.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. GS1 Barcode Subscription: Annual subscription fees for GS1 barcodes/GTINs. Companies pay renewal fees to maintain barcode validity. Longer duration renewals (3/5/10 years) provide greater savings. Includes access to DataKart account, ClickIt application, Smart Consumer app reach, and GTIN validation.
2. GS1 Company Prefix (GCP) Licensing: Annual licensing fees for Global Company Prefix enabling companies to generate their own GTINs and barcodes.
3. DataKart Premium Services: Premium subscription tiers with advanced features including API integration, dedicated support, label generation module, QR code generation, and enhanced data management capabilities.
4. Solution Provider Registration: Registration fees for solution providers under the Solution Provider Programme across categories including barcode solutions, authentication, online printing, system integration, retail software, packaging, RFID, and e-cataloguing.
5. Education & Training: E-learning subscription fees for GS1 standards training courses including GS1 Introduction, Identification Keys, Barcodes, EPC/RFID, Traceability, GDSN, EDI, Transport & Logistics, Retail, and Data Quality.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

GS1 India is the only authorised body in India to issue GS1 barcodes with the '890' country prefix and allocate Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) and Global Company Prefixes (GCPs). It operates DataKart, India's national product data repository, along with traceability, verification, consulting, and training services that help businesses across retail, healthcare, food & agriculture, transport & logistics, and defence adopt global supply chain standards.

Product overview

GS1 India offers a platform-plus-modules product architecture centered on its national product data repository, DataKart, which serves as the single source of truth for product information across India's supply chain. The portfolio consists of DataKart (core platform), DataKart Premium (enhanced tier with API integration to ERPs like SAP, QR code generation, and label modules), DataKart Trace (end-to-end supply chain traceability with serialised GTINs), DataKart for Retailers (retailer-facing portal for product data access), DataKart for Brand Owners (brand owner portal for multi-stakeholder data sharing), and DataKart for Solution Providers (POS integration with 50+ million SKUs). Supporting products include Smart Consumer (consumer-facing mobile app for barcode scanning and product verification), ClickIt (mobile app for product image capture and DataKart upload), Verified by GS1 (brand ownership and GTIN validation), GS1 Digital Link (QR code standard), GS1 DataMatrix (2D barcode for healthcare/traceability), GS1-8/GTIN-8 (compact barcode for small items), ROHINI (hospital registry), and GS1 barcodes/GTINs (core identification product with subscription-based access to DataKart, ClickIt, and Smart Consumer). Professional services include barcode verification, consulting and advisory, and an Education & Training Learning Zone. The portfolio serves retail, FMCG, healthcare, food & agriculture, transport & logistics, defence, construction, and MSME sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DataKart: India's national product data repository for managing and sharing product information
• Smart Consumer
• ClickIt
• DataKart Trace
• DataKart Premium

Products and services

• DataKart India's national product data repository enabling brand owners to upload, edit, and manage product details in one place and share consistent product information with retailers, online marketplaces, and consumers.
• DataKart Premium Enhanced tier of DataKart offering dedicated technical support, GS1 Digital Link QR code generation, FSSAI license mapping, label generation for pharma/tender requirements, API integration with ERPs/SAP, and role-based access control.
• DataKart Trace End-to-end supply chain traceability solution using serialised GTINs and GS1 DataMatrix barcodes to track and trace products from source to point-of-sale, supporting regulatory compliance and recall readiness.
• DataKart for Retailers Retailer-facing portal providing structured product data uploaded by brand owners for inventory management, optimised planogramming, and near real-time ERP product data updates.
• DataKart for Brand Owners Brand owner portal enabling a single version of product truth to be shared with retailers, e-tailers, and kirana stores, with one-click promotion management and instant buyer acknowledgement.
• DataKart for Solution Providers POS solution provider portal granting access to updated data on millions of retail SKUs from brand owners, enabling integration with point-of-sale scanning solutions.
• Smart Consumer Consumer-facing mobile application enabling shoppers to scan GS1 barcodes and DataMatrix codes to access detailed product information including manufacturing details, FSSAI license numbers, pack shots, and authenticity verification.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced catalogue errors by 80% by verifying EAN codes with DataKart before product onboarding
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Ministry of Commerce and Industry, IndiaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGS1 India was established by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry along with industry bodies. The ministry provides governmental support and recognition for GS1 India as the sole authorised body for barcodes starting with '890'.
• CII (Confederation of Indian Industry)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the founding industry bodies that established GS1 India along with Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the founding industry bodies that established GS1 India.
• ASSOCHAMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the founding industry bodies that established GS1 India.
• BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner providing standards expertise and governmental recognition.
• APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner supporting agricultural product traceability and export compliance.
• IMC (Indian Merchants' Chamber)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the founding industry bodies that established GS1 India.
• FIEO (Federation of Indian Export Organisations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner supporting export-oriented businesses with GS1 standards.
• IIP (Indian Institute of Packaging)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner providing packaging standards expertise.
• Spices Board IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner supporting spices sector traceability and export compliance.
• GoogleflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal collaboration enabling smartphone camera scanning of GS1 DataMatrix barcodes. This marks a breakthrough for patient safety, allowing consumers to access product information through Google's scanning technology.
• Amazon GlobalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmazon Global Transparency Team collaboration to strengthen product identity, serialization, and trusted data. Focus on how GS1 standards can accelerate transparency and enable future-ready supply chains.
• GS1 Global NetworkflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGS1 India is one of 116 member organisations of GS1 Global - the global standards organisation developing and managing supply chain standards across 150+ countries.
• FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory partnership for food safety compliance. FSSAI has approved embedding manufacturing details and license numbers in GS1 barcodes for consumer scanning.
• Ministry of MSMEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry providing barcode reimbursement scheme for micro-enterprises - 80% reimbursement on registration fees up to Rs. 50,650 for first 3 years.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GS1 Global Office: GS1 Global Office coordinates the 116-country GS1 member organisation network that defines and maintains the standards GS1 India issues. It is the apex entity in GS1 India's peer set and the source of Vision 2030 and global interoperability that GS1 India relies on.
• Systech (ATS Corporation): Systech, now part of ATS Corporation, offers brand protection, serialization, and traceability solutions for pharma and FMCG — directly competing with GS1 India's DataKart Trace for unit-level traceability and authentication use cases.
• GS1 US: GS1 US is the U.S. member organization of the same GS1 global network, issuing GTIN barcodes with the '0'/'1' prefix and operating an equivalent product data repository and traceability platform. It is the most direct analogue in terms of business model, services, and regulatory role.
• TraceLink: TraceLink provides pharmaceutical serialization, track-and-trace, and supply-chain compliance software for life sciences companies. It competes head-on with GS1 India's DataKart Trace offering for pharma traceability mandates like DSCSA and India-specific drug traceability.
• 1WorldSync: 1WorldSync is the leading provider of product information synchronization via the GDSN standard that GS1 India also supports, and it operates the GS1 Global Data Synchronisation Network. Comparable in product data management positioning to DataKart.

Broad incumbents

• Avery Dennison: Avery Dennison is a global incumbent in RFID inlays, smart labels, and barcode labelling hardware — the physical infrastructure that GS1 India identification standards enable. Comparable as a broader, established player in the barcode/RFID ecosystem rather than a direct identifier-issuer competitor.
• Zebra Technologies: Zebra Technologies is a leading global manufacturer of barcode scanners, RFID readers, and enterprise capture hardware. It is a broad incumbent in the data-capture device market that GS1 India standards underpin, but it does not issue identifiers.
• Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions: Honeywell's SPS division provides barcode scanners, mobile computers, and productivity solutions for retail, logistics, and healthcare. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the data-capture hardware ecosystem that consumes GS1 standards.

Emerging players

• SML Group: SML Group is a specialist provider of RFID tags and retail brand identification solutions. Comparable as a niche player in the same identification-and-capture ecosystem that GS1 India serves through its barcode and RFID standards portfolio.
• rfxcel Corporation: rfxcel, now part of Ant Group, provides supply chain serialization and traceability software focused on pharma, food, and consumer goods. It overlaps with GS1 India's DataKart Trace capabilities for regulated industries but focuses on software rather than identifier issuance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GS1India
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GS1India
• Facebookfacebook.com/GS1India
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gs1india
• Instagraminstagram.com/gs1india890

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 India