Construction

Construction

Powering the golden thread of information
for efficiency and safety.

The construction industry faces significant challenges in becoming more efficient, increasing safety, improving productivity, and lowering costs.

New legislation is also fuelling a growing demand for consistent, accurate, and trusted data on the procurement and management of materials at every step of the supply chain.

By providing stakeholders with a common language for capturing and sharing data on buildings, equipment and materials, GS1 standards have the power to increase the visibility, traceability, and safety. 

The construction industry must digitalise if it is to deliver lasting change and a clear pathway for the future. GS1 standards can power this digitalisation, keeping industry informed and consumers protected with data they can trust. 

Benefits of using GS1 standards in construction

Sustainability and traceability

Sustainability and traceability

GS1 standards create more efficient information flows with greater transparency through the value chain.

Digitisation and automation

Digitisation and automation

Enable the digital sharing of interoperable data. Having full control over delivery and distribution saves time and reduces costs.

Comply with legislation

Comply with legislation

GS1 standards help businesses meet challenging regulatory and industry demands, providing increased security and trust, regardless of where you sit in the supply chain.

Travis Perkins

As a member of GS1 UK, we see the provision of a GTIN is incredibly important in supporting a number of our business processes and a key ingredient in our strategic data roadmap, which will benefit our customers in the future."

Robert Barbour

Group data & insights director

The golden thread

The golden thread

The Building Safety Act 2022 has been put in place with the aim of enhancing regulation around building safety and construction.

To facilitate what many refer to as the ‘golden thread of data’, it is essential for the construction industry to collaborate and recognise the need for a common product identifier.

This will enable a consistent approach to the sharing of trusted data across the entire supply chain, from manufacturer to retailer and onto the building site.

The golden thread of data starts with the ability for everyone, at any stage in the manufacture or usage of construction materials, to easily identify a product using a ‘common product language’.

Using GS1 standards and the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) as the unique product identifier will provide the first critical piece of the thread. This product data can then be used to build data sets that will enable stakeholders to make more informed decisions and meet new regulatory requirements for traceability, interoperability, accessibility, verifiable and secure data.

Traceability and interoperability

There are a number of GS1 Identification Keys that are used in construction to enable transparency throughout the supply chain and lifecycle of products. These keys allow for products and places to be identified seamlessly in a standardised format so that all captured data remains consistent.

GS1 standards are both system and device agnostic, allowing vital data to be shared between systems and organisations to facilitate system-wide interoperability.

GS1 standards in construction

Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)

Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)

The GTIN, the number you typically see under barcodes, is used to uniquely identify billions of products around the world. Whether in store, online or on site, they provide an accurate and efficient way to access and share information about a product.

Global Location Number (GLN)

Global Location Number (GLN)

A unique number that is assigned to parties and locations to enable them to be identified uniquely worldwide. They provide a single method for location identification for all companies in the supply chain, removing the risk of unnecessary costs and errors.

 

Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC)

Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC)

Can be used by companies to identify a logistic unit enabling them to be tracked and traced throughout the supply chain. Logistics units can be any combination of trade items packaged together for storage and/ or transport purposes; for example a case, pallet or parcel.

EAN-13, EAN-8, ITF-14 and GS1-128

EAN-13, EAN-8, ITF-14 and GS1-128

These types of barcodes play a key role in supply chains, enabling industry to automatically identify and track products as they move through the supply chain.

GS1 DataMatrix

GS1 DataMatrix

For barcoding products with 2D codes to hold more information about a product.

Global Individual Asset Identifier (GIAI)

Global Individual Asset Identifier (GIAI)

For uniquely identifying and recording individual assets such as air handling units, boilers, and plant equipment throughout their lifecycle, from procurement and maintenance to upgrades and decommissions.

In collaboration with the industry

The GS1 UK construction user group is committed to ensuring the industry adopts GS1 identifiers and standards. Enabling efficient, quality assured information and product flows enables improvements throughout the life cycle of buildings or projects.

Construction group

FAQs

You need GTIN on your products to, among other things, be able to safely identify the specific product which enables traceability throughout the supply chain. More and more retailers, merchants, and contractors request that products have GTINs as part of commercial agreements.

The GTIN is more than a number it is a unique product identifier which facilities data communication across all industries via standards in barcode labelling and scanning.

It has the ability to incorporate production information ie. batch, date, serial number etc via application identifiers. It is easily traceable and can help all organisations with logistics, productivity, wastage and product recall.

It is well known in the industry however it has predominantly been used alongside retail to scan products for purchase. It is also used for inventory, procurement and identification of the lifecycle of a product. It is commonly known as the EAN/UPC which is the barcode which it sits in.

The GTIN is already established in many construction based platforms such as ETIM and BSi Identify. It is a unique number is can be used across any database. It has been designed to function globally across all sectors.

GS1 standards for construction

Training

GS1 standards for construction

If you want to learn more about how GS1 standards can support your business, take a look at our GS1 standards for construction course.

Standards in action

See how GS1 standards are being implemented in construction across the world.

GTIN Management Guideline for construction products

Helping to make consistent decisions about the unique identification of construction products in open supply chains and to comply with the general GTIN Management Standard.