Types of GTINs and Differences Between them

What is GTIN?

The Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) is the name given to the number that uniquely identifies a product. In North America it is 12 digits, but in the rest of the world it is usually 13 digits long, or sometimes 8 digits for very small products.

A GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) is a product identifier code embedded in the UPC barcode required to sell products in stores or on an e-commerce platform such as Amazon.

Additionally, these product ID numbers not only help you manage inventory, but also make your product unique. Efficiently tagging and organizing products with the correct identifier helps retailers avoid data conflicts, catalog clutter and more.

GTIN Barcodes

GTIN stands for Global Business Identification Number. This refers to any barcode used in the Global Retail System. Therefore, there are several different types of barcodes. I have detailed the most common of these below:

1. GTIN-12 – This, UPCDenotes -A or UPC-12 barcodes. These are used in products and are common in the USA and Canada.
2. GTIN-13 – This is a EANRepresents the -13 barcode. These are the most common type of barcode used for retail and are common in all countries.
3. GTIN-14 – This stands for ITF-14 or TUN Carton Codes. These are used for 6 or 12 or any number of cardboard boxes of your product and are used solely for stock tracking by the company. It is based on the UPC-A or EAN-13 barcode, so ITF-14 on the carton corresponds to EAN-13 on the product inside the box.
4. ISBN – The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a unique trade book identifier barcode. Each ISBN code uniquely identifies a book. The ISBN is 10 or 13 digits. All ISBNs assigned after January 1, 2007 are 13 digits. Typically, the ISBN is printed on the back cover of the book.
5. ASIN – Amazon Standard Identification Numbers (ASINs) are unique blocks of 10 letters and/or numbers that identify items on Amazon. The ASIN for books is the same as the ISBN number, but for all other products, a new ASIN is created when the item is uploaded to the catalog. When creating a new ASIN, you need to know your product's GTINs or Global Trade Item Numbers. The most common GTINs used are UPCs, ISBNs, and EANs. Such codes are usually found next to the barcode on the product packaging of your product. Amazon uses these universal product identifiers (GTINs) to generate and match their own unique ASIN codes.

Conclusion: GTIN is a family of numbers and includes UPCs, EANs and Shipping Container Codes.

GTINs (UPCs and EAN barcodes) are used on all products. Whether you've created a DVD, you can find clothing, food, hardware, electronics, accessories, etc. sold, you will use a UPC (or EAN) barcode for your product.

What is UPC?

UPC Number (Universal Product Code) is the name given to the standard barcode image of a 12-digit GTIN used by American and Canadian companies.

The first 6-9 digits of a UPC code are called the Company Prefix, which remains fixed on any UPC number owned. The next set of numbers that follow are the item numbers assigned to a unique item selected by the buyer. The last digit in the UPC is called the check digit, which is a calculation based on the 11 digits before it.

What is EAN?

EAN, which stands for European Article Number, is the name given to the standard barcode image that represents the 13-digit GTIN on most products you purchase from stores in the UK and worldwide, excluding North America.

What is an ISBN?

An ISBN, short for the international standard book number, is usually 10-13 digits long and is embedded in a barcode. Unlike a UPC or EAN, an ISBN uniquely identifies a book or book-like product. And as the name suggests, it can be used to refer to a title on an international level.

To get an ISBN, you need to apply for it at one of the 160 ISBN agencies around the world, such as the UABN (Universal Book Number Agency) or isbn.org.

What is JAN?

Japan also uses the same standard and calls it the Japanese Product Number (JAN). Codes used in Japan start with different numbers than those used in Europe, so they are globally unique.

What is the Difference Between EAN and UPC?

A UPC is a 12-digit barcode used in North America to identify most products. The rest of the world uses 13-digit EAN barcodes to identify products. However, both numbers and barcode types are part of the GS1 System of international standards, so both are accepted globally.

UPC, EAN, ISBN Links with GTIN

GTIN barcode numbers such as UPC or EAN are essential data structures that help business owners and companies around the world maintain and manage their catalogs.

GTIN stands for Global Trade Item Number. More specifically, a GTIN is a sequence of numbers associated with a barcode. GTIN codes are part of larger global data structures that help identify a company's unique product.

Technically, there is no difference between GTIN and UPC because they are one and the same. Likewise, UPC, EAN, and ISBN are all GTINs. This is because the GTIN is the number encoded in the UPC, EAN or ISBN barcode.

What is FNSKU?

FNSKU stands for Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit, which is created when you create a product list. When you ship products to a fulfillment centre, an FNSKU must be visibly labeled on your product.

Just like a GTIN, an FNSKU is a unique set of numbers for a product that is linked to a specific barcode.

What is the Difference Between GTIN and FNSKU?

If you are just starting to sell your products on Amazon, or if you are a third-party seller or distributor selling the same products as others, you will need an FNSKU that appears on your product labels. For example, a reusable Starbucks cup.

FNSKUs are often required when selling on Amazon because ASINs (a particular product) can be sold by different vendors and/or have multiple SKUs. When a product such as the Starbucks mug is sold by more than one "additional seller," an FNSKU is what identifies both the product and the seller to Amazon's staff.
This way, if an item sold by you and other sellers is determined to be counterfeit or otherwise unsalable, Amazon can identify which seller is at fault.

If you already have a branded product on Amazon that no one else is selling, an FNSKU is not necessary as you can label your products with UPC or EAN codes.