EANCOM® 2002 S3, Edition 2008 | Part I
| OVERVIEW

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1. OVERVIEW

1.1 Introduction

The GS1 EANCOM® standard is an implementation guideline on the use of subsets of selected UN/EDIFACT messages. It specifies in detail the use of the relevant components of these UN/EDIFACT messages in order to support their electronic exchange between trading partner application systems.

This document is the manual for the EANCOM® syntax version 3, 2002, Edition 2008 release. It is based on UN/EDIFACT directory D.01B, syntax version 3 which was released by UN/CEFACT in 2001.

This manual is developed by GS1 and represents an integral part of the suite of GS1 supply chain solutions. In this context, the EANCOM® manual should be read in conjunction with the "GS1 General Specifications" manual which describes the GS1 Identification and BarCode standards.

It is important to note that the EANCOM® syntax versions 3 and 4, 2002, Edition 2008 release replaces the EANCOM® syntax version 3, 1997 release which was based on UN/EDIFACT directory D.96A. Therefore, at the time of publication of this manual, the EANCOM® syntax versions 3 and 4, 2002, Edition 2008 release becomes the EANCOM® standard.

In terms of future maintenance and processing of new user requirements, change requests will be processed only against EANCOM® syntax versions 3 and 4, 2002, Edition 2008 release.

1.1 GS1 System

The GS1 System is an integral part of the way business is conducted world-wide. It is a global multi-industry system of supply chain solutions that provides for the identification and communication of products, services and locations based on internationally accepted and business-led open standards for the benefit of the users involved.

The GS1 system is developed and managed by GS1, using the GS1 Global Standards Management Process (GSMP).

1.3 GS1 Standards

The international GS1 Standards include:

> * Standard identification of trade items (products or services), logistic units, assets, locations, service relationships, and other special applications.
> * Standard bar code formats to allow the automatic and secure capture of the standard identification.
> * Standard supplementary codes to encode variable data (in a bar code), in addition to identification.
> * Standard formats for trade, transport and finance transactions exchanged between computer-to-computer applications.

1.3.1 Bar Coding Standards

GS1 specifies standards for data carriers (bar codes). Four bar code symbologies are part of the GS1 System:

> 1. EAN/UPC family of bar code symbols. They must be used for all items that are scanned at the Point-of- Sale.
> 2. Interleaved 2-of-5 (ITF-14). They carry ID numbers only on trade items that are not expected to pass through the Point-of-Sale.
> 3. GS1-128 (a subset of Code 128 which, throughout the use of GS1 Application Identifiers, is capable of encoding all GS1 Identification numbers and supplementary codes).
> 4. GS1 DataBar and Composite Symbologies offer enhanced possibilities to print more information on bar codes of smaller dimensions.

3.2 eCom (EDI) Standards

Many GS1 Member Organisations have been approached and entrusted by their member companies to develop a standard communication system, including telecommunication facilities, allowing commercial documents such as purchase orders, delivery instructions, invoices, and product information to be sent via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) to their trading partners.

The GS1 International eCom standard, EANCOM®, came about as a result of EDI developments among the GS1 Member Organisations. In 1987 at the GS1 General Assembly, the decision was taken that an international eCom standard based on UN/EDIFACT should be developed. GS1's international eCom standard, EANCOM®, has been in existence since 1990. This release, the EANCOM® 2002, Edition 2008, constitutes the new EANCOM® standard.

© Copyright GS1 2008 |  | 2008-10-01