Global Location Numbers assigned by GS1 worldwide, are actively used across many industry sectors to identify functional and physical locations. Typically GLN’s are assigned to physical, functional and legal entities e.g. the ordering party, (functional), ship-to locations (physical) and corporate HQ domicile (legal).
GS1 UK is embarking on the creation of a GLN Registry to act as a repository of GLNs across multiple sectors that are actively maintained by their licensed owners. The provision of the UK’s first central UK Global Location Number (GLN) Registry will provide a single trusted source of location information for use by companies’ within their existing operations and externally with their trading partners.
The proposed Registry will be accessible in real time by applications and individuals, some of whom may be outside the UK time zone. In operation, the registry allows authorised users within organisations to add and maintain GLNs allocated by GS1 UK to that organisation. This is achieved by an online dialogue with the Registry via a user interface, accessible as a GS1 UK service through the GS1 UK member web site.
In summary GLNs can be added singly or in bulk and, optionally, the Registry can assign GLNs from the range of numbers allocated by GS1 to an organisation. Information is validated at the point of addition and a second approval stage allows additions to be reviewed before being made active (published).