GINC (Global Identification Number for Consignment) is a globally unique number which is used to identify goods which are being transported together.
Using GINC to identify a consignment
It is possible to goods, which are part of the same shipment, to be reloaded during transport and split across different transport methods or transport routes before they reach the consignee.
Those logistic units which must be transported together can be identified with a GINC. This allows the forwarder to keep the units together when they are transported from one point to the next.
GINC identifies a consignment of logistic units during transport or transport stage. GSIN (Global Shipment Identification Number) is used, in contrast to GINC, to identify a shipment from a consignor to a consignee. Logistic units retain the same GSIN during the entire transport, but are identified with different GINCs during each transport stage to the consignee.
Normally it is the forwarder who identifies the consignment with a GINC. Following agreement with the forward, the carrier or consignor may also allocate the GINC.
Example: Consignor A is sending two pallets of goods to consignee B. The loads on each pallet have been identified with two different SSCCs (Serial Shipping Container Code). Since the two pallets are part of the same shipment, the consignor identifies the two pallets with the same GSIN allowing the shipment to be tracked from A to B.
In figure 1 the two logistic units are transported together and the forwarder identifies the consignment and its two units with the same GINC.
Figure 1
In figure 2 the two logistic units are transported by different methods. When the two logistic unit are transported together, the forwarder identifies these as one consignment with the same GINC. When the two units are no longer transported together or change transport method, they are considered new consignments each with a new identity. Note that even if the two pallets are not being transported together, they are still part of the same shipment and retain the same GSIN.
Figure 2
How to create a GINC
To create a GINC you need to subscribe to a GS1 Company Prefix from GS1 Sweden. The same GS1 Company prefix can be used to create all GS1 identifiers.
A GINC is up to 30 characters long and consists of the GS1 Company Prefix and a consignment reference.
|
GINC |
| GS1 Company Prefix -> |
Consignment Reference -> |
| N1...Ni |
Xi+1...variable length... Xj (j<=30) |
- The GS1 Company Prefix consists of 6-9 digits depending on the user's requirements.
- Following the company prefix is a consignment reference which can consist of digits and letters. The consignment reference is a variable length.
Putting a GINC in a barcode
The logistic units can be marked with a barcode containing the consignment’s GINC. When a GS1-128 barcode is used, the Application Identifier (AI) 401 should be used.
Glossary
Consignor - the party sending the goods.
Consignee - the party receiving the goods.
Forwarder - the party planning the transport on behalf of the consignor or consignee.
Carrier - the party transporting the goods between two points.