With the expansion of global trade and computerization, plain language descriptions of products and services need to be replaced by identification systems that are usable in all trade and industry sectors world-wide.

Barcode system has been developed to meet this need by providing solutions that guarantees unique and unambiguous identification. Manufacturers, exporters, importers, hospitals, wholesalers, retailers, etc. can use the system to communicate information regarding the goods or services they trade.

These unique identification numbers can be represented by bar code symbols. This enables inexpensive and accurate data capture thus providing the required information at all points of the supply chain.

One of the main concepts of this system is that any item (product or service) upon which there is a need to retrieve pre-defined information and that may be priced or ordered or invoiced at any point in any supply chain can be allocated a unique identification number – the Global Trade Item Number, or GTIN for short.