Application Identifiers (AI)
Application Identifiers (AI) are two, three or four-digit long identifiers that signify what the following bit of data in the barcode is. They basically explain to the scanner what information is coming up next.
Adding production data to your product helps facilitate the exchange of important information along supply chain and enables better traceability and inventory management.
Some of the most commonly used AI are shown below:
| AI | Description | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) | |||
| 10 | Batch or lot number | |||
| 15 | Best before date (YYMMDD) | |||
| 16 | Sell by date (YYMMDD) | |||
| 17 | Expiration date (YYMMDD) | |||
| 310X | Net weight in kilograms |
Barcodes that encode Application Identifiers include the following:
GS1-128
This barcode is commonly used on healthcare items, logistic units and cases of short-life products. Can encode any GS1 identifier, including the GTIN and SSCC. Can contain information such as best before dates, batch/lot numbers and serial numbers.
GS1 DataMatrix
A two-dimensional (2D) barcode which can hold lots of data in a small symbol. It’s primarily used for healthcare applications including barcoding patient wristbands, marking medical devices and pharmaceuticals as well as asset tracking. It is increasingly used in the construction sector.
QR code powered by GS1
As well as doing anything a normal QR code can do, QR codes powered by GS1 can take people to dynamic webpages, can be used for inventory and supply chain purposes and will also go beep at the till.
You can find a full list of application identifiers here.