Back to E-commerce Dictionary

Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)

Core concepts1/5/2026Basic Level

A globally unique 14-digit number used to identify trade items, crucial for product identification in e-commerce and logistics.

What is Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)? (Definition)

A Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) is a unique 14-digit number used to identify products and services. It helps businesses track items as they move through the global supply chain. This term covers several common barcode types, such as UPC in North America, EAN in Europe, and ISBN for books. These numbers ensure that every product has a one-of-a-kind code. This prevents confusion between different items in a warehouse or online store. Retailers use GTINs to manage inventory and process sales accurately. PIM systems like WISEPIM store these numbers to keep product data consistent across all sales channels.

Why Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) is Important for E-commerce

A GTIN is a unique identification code that identifies a product in the global market. Marketplaces like Amazon and Bol.com require these numbers for all product listings. They use GTINs to stop counterfeit goods and prevent duplicate items. These codes help you track stock and scan products quickly at checkout. They also make it easier to share data with business partners. Without the correct GTIN, your products may not appear on major shopping sites. This leads to lost sales and extra manual work for your team.

Examples of Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)

  • 1A European supermarket uses an EAN-13 barcode on a physical product and its online store page.
  • 2Amazon requires a UPC-A code for any product sold in its US catalog.
  • 3An online bookstore uses an ISBN as a specific type of GTIN to track book titles.
  • 4A case of 24 sodas uses a GTIN-14, while a single can uses a different GTIN-12 code.
  • 5Companies use GTINs to identify the same product across different countries even if the packaging or name changes locally.

How WISEPIM Helps

  • WISEPIM stores all your GTINs, like UPCs and ISBNs, in one central place. This helps you find and use the correct ID for every product.
  • Send accurate GTINs to marketplaces and webshops to meet their strict rules. This prevents your product listings from being rejected.
  • WISEPIM checks your GTINs for errors to keep your data accurate. This ensures every product has a unique code and stops listing mistakes.
  • Use GTINs to track products across your inventory and sales systems. WISEPIM links these codes together to keep your business data organized.

Common Mistakes with Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)

  • Using internal SKUs instead of official GTINs causes marketplaces to reject your product listings.
  • Marketplaces may block your sales if you do not check GTINs against the official GS1 database first.
  • Using different GTINs for the same product on different websites creates errors in your inventory and data.
  • You must assign new GTINs when you change a product's packaging, size, or bundle to keep data accurate.
  • Buying GTINs from third-party websites instead of GS1 often leads to invalid codes that other companies already use.

Tips for Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)

  • Buy GTINs directly from GS1. This is the official global organization. It ensures your codes are unique and follow industry rules.
  • Use a PIM system like WISEPIM to manage GTINs in one place. This keeps data consistent and prevents manual mistakes.
  • Check your product list often to ensure every GTIN is correct. This helps you meet marketplace rules and prevents rejected listings.
  • Train your team on when to assign new GTINs. They must know if a new bundle or packaging change needs its own code.
  • Use GTINs to track stock in your warehouse. This makes your internal work faster and more accurate.

Trends Surrounding Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)

  • Enhanced Data Quality with AI: AI-driven validation and enrichment of GTIN data to automatically detect errors, suggest corrections, and improve accuracy across product catalogs.
  • Digital Product Passports (DPP) and Sustainability: GTINs become a core identifier for linking products to their Digital Product Passports, providing detailed information on origin, materials, and lifecycle for regulatory compliance and consumer transparency.
  • Automated GTIN Assignment and Management: Increased automation in PIM systems for assigning and managing GTINs, reducing manual effort and ensuring compliance with marketplace requirements.
  • Blockchain for Supply Chain Traceability: Integration of GTINs with blockchain technology to provide immutable records of product movement, enhancing transparency and combating counterfeiting.

Tools for Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)

  • WISEPIM: Centralizes product data, including GTINs, facilitating validation, enrichment, and syndication to various e-commerce channels and marketplaces.
  • Akeneo: A leading PIM solution for managing comprehensive product information, including GTINs, across multiple locales and sales channels.
  • Salsify: Offers a PIM and Product Experience Management platform to manage GTINs and deliver rich product content that drives sales.
  • GS1 GEPIR: A global registry and search tool to verify GTINs and company prefixes, ensuring the authenticity and validity of product identifiers.
  • Shopify/Magento: E-commerce platforms that integrate with PIMs to leverage GTINs for accurate product listings, inventory management, and streamlined checkout processes.

Related Terms

sku stock keeping unitproduct data standardizationmarketplace integrationproduct catalogproduct information management pimproduct data quality

Also Known As

UPCEANISBNproduct identifier (specific type of)