GLN-Nummer
Also: GLN, Global Location Number, Global Location Number (GLN), GLN-Nummer, GLNs
AI-generated
The GLN (Global Location Number) is a globally unique, 13-digit number based on the GS1 standard that identifies locations, organizations, and functional areas within the supply chain.
Key facts
- The GLN is a 13-digit GS1 number that uniquely identifies locations and organizations within the supply chain on a global basis.
- It is used in EDI messages such as DESADV and ORDERS to ensure error-free system-level assignment of senders, recipients, and delivery locations.
- GLN and GTIN both follow the GS1 standard but identify different objects: GLN for locations and organizations, GTIN for products.
- Inconsistent GLN master data across ERP, WMS, and TMS is a common cause of errors in delivery notifications and freight assignments.
- Companies obtain GLNs through their national GS1 organization; in Germany, this is GS1 Germany.
What is the GLN?
The Global Location Number (GLN) is a 13-digit GS1 standard for the unique identification of physical locations, legal entities, and functional areas within a supply chain. Every GLN is globally unique and is issued by GS1 member organizations. It identifies, for example, a plant, a warehouse, an individual loading dock, a branch, or an entire company. The number consists of a GS1 prefix, a location component, and a check digit.
How does the GLN work in practice?
In operational logistics, the GLN appears primarily in electronic messages: delivery notifications (DESADV), purchase orders, invoices, and transport orders contain GLNs for senders and recipients, enabling systems to uniquely assign these locations without manual interpretation. A typical scenario: a supplier sends a DESADV containing the GLN of its shipping dock and the GLN of the customer's goods receiving area. The recipient's warehouse management system automatically assigns the delivery to the correct goods receiving zone without needing to interpret address text.
For this to work, GLNs must be maintained consistently across all systems involved — ERP, WMS, TMS, and EDI converters must all reference the same GLN for the same location. Inconsistent master data is a common source of errors in practice: if the ERP holds a different GLN than the TMS, assignment errors occur in delivery notifications or freight cost settlements.
Wholesalers, food retailers, and automotive suppliers frequently require their vendors to use GLNs in EDI documents. Companies that do not yet have a GLN obtain one through their national GS1 organization (in Germany, GS1 Germany).
What matters when implementing GLNs?
When building a GLN structure, you should first clarify which locations and functional units require their own GLN. Not every loading dock necessarily needs its own number — it depends on whether partners need to differentiate at that level. The following points are relevant in practice:
- Define the level of granularity: plant, warehouse, dock, or department — depending on the requirements of your trading partners.
- Maintain GLNs centrally in the master data system and synchronize them across all connected systems.
- Document which partners require which GLNs in documents.
- Clearly distinguish between GLN (location/organization) and GTIN (product): both follow the GS1 standard but have different areas of application.
Since the GLN is an open standard, there is no dependency on a specific software vendor. However, how well it is mapped in ERP or WMS depends on the respective system configuration and is not standardized.
Related terms
- Artikelnummer
The item number is an internally assigned, unique identifier that unambiguously identifies an article within the inventory management and warehouse system. It forms the basis for postings, purchase orders, and communication between purchasing, warehousing, and production.
- Artikelstammdaten
Item master data refers to the permanently valid base data of an item – such as dimensions, weight, packaging units, hazardous goods classification, and best-before date relevance. It forms the foundation for all logistical, procurement-related, and system-driven processes along the supply chain.
- Avisierung
Pre-advice refers to the advance notification of a delivery by the supplier to the recipient before the goods arrive. It enables the warehouse to plan staffing, dock capacity, and put-away processes in a timely manner.
- Barcode
A barcode is a machine-readable optical code that represents information as a pattern of bars and spaces or as a two-dimensional matrix. It enables the automatic identification of items, load carriers, and documents along the entire supply chain.
- Charge
A batch is a uniquely identifiable quantity of products manufactured or processed under identical conditions. It forms the basis for traceability, quality control, and legally required recall processes throughout the entire supply chain.
- DESADV
DESADV (Dispatch Advice) is a standardized EDI message in EDIFACT format that electronically announces an upcoming delivery. It transmits structured information on packaging units, items, quantities, and identifiers such as the SSCC to the goods recipient.
- Data Matrix
Data Matrix is a two-dimensional barcode that stores significantly more information in a very small area than conventional 1D barcodes. Thanks to integrated error correction, it remains reliably readable even when partially damaged or soiled.