The Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) is a unique identifier for logistical units, enabling accurate tracking and management across international borders and diverse systems. Understanding the SSCC’s composition and function is crucial for companies modernizing their global supply chain operations.
Defining the Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC)
The Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) is a unique, non-reusable 18-digit numerical sequence assigned to a single logistical unit. This unit can be a pallet, shipping carton, or any configuration of items grouped for transport and storage. The SSCC provides a distinct, global identifier for the container itself, separating it from the contents it holds.
Once assigned, this 18-digit number remains permanently linked to the unit’s journey. This design ensures that the identifier is never reused, even after the unit is broken down or delivered. By focusing identification on the physical transport vessel, the SSCC simplifies the process of tracking large, consolidated shipments across multiple transfer points.
The Role of SSCC in Supply Chain Management
The SSCC is central to achieving supply chain visibility and movement control. As a shipment moves, the SSCC acts as the primary reference point for all digital communications, facilitating immediate traceability without needing to scan individual product codes.
The SSCC is necessary for generating Advanced Shipping Notices (ASNs), electronic documents sent via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) to the recipient before the physical arrival of the goods. When the shipment arrives, the recipient can scan the SSCC barcode, and their system instantly links that physical unit to the pre-received ASN data. This automated process bypasses manual verification, streamlining the receiving process and reducing dock-to-stock time for trading partners.
Understanding the SSCC Structure and Components
The SSCC is an 18-digit number, ensuring system compatibility and standardized data capture worldwide. When encoded for digital transmission, the number is preceded by the GS1 Application Identifier (00). This identifier instructs scanning equipment that the following digits represent an SSCC. The 18 digits are segmented into four distinct parts, each serving a specific identification purpose.
Extension Digit
The Extension Digit is the first component, a single number (0 to 9) used at the discretion of the company creating the SSCC. It has no defined information content. Its primary purpose is to increase the capacity of the company’s serial reference number pool or serve as an internal sequencing tool.
GS1 Company Prefix
The GS1 Company Prefix follows the extension digit. This variable-length sequence uniquely identifies the organization assigning the SSCC. Administered and licensed by GS1, the prefix ensures global non-duplication. Its length determines the maximum number of serial references a company can generate.
Serial Reference
The Serial Reference is the unique sequence assigned to the specific logistical unit, making up the bulk of the remaining digits. This portion is assigned sequentially by the shipper’s internal system. Combined with the GS1 Company Prefix, it ensures the absolute uniqueness of the SSCC.
Check Digit
The final component is the Check Digit, a single number calculated using the standardized Modulo 10 formula. This digit is appended to the SSCC for error detection during scanning or manual input. If the calculated digit does not match the scanned digit, the system immediately flags a potential data corruption or input error.
SSCC and GS1 Standards
The SSCC operates under the governance of the GS1 organization, which develops and maintains global business communication standards. GS1 ensures that the SSCC structure, encoding rules, and application identifiers are uniform across all industries and geographical regions. This standardization allows the code to be globally unique and universally readable by disparate logistical systems.
Compliance with GS1 standards is a prerequisite for generating and using SSCCs, ensuring full interoperability with trading partners worldwide. GS1 manages the issuance of the unique Company Prefixes, which maintains global non-duplication of the 18-digit number.
Implementing SSCC in Logistics Operations
Practical implementation of the SSCC involves physically representing the 18-digit number on a standardized shipping label. The SSCC is commonly encoded into the GS1-128 linear barcode format, which is designed to carry multiple data elements on a single label. This barcode is strategically placed on the logistical unit to ensure ease of scanning from any angle.
The process begins with the shipper’s warehouse management system (WMS) generating the SSCC and linking it to the specific contents of the pallet build. Once the SSCC is assigned and the label is printed, scanners capture the data upon loading, instantly associating the physical unit with the digital ASN transmission. At the receiving dock, a single scan of the GS1-128 barcode updates inventory records and confirms receipt against the ASN. Some advanced operations also embed the SSCC into an Electronic Product Code (EPC) for use with passive RFID tags, allowing for automated data capture.
Key Business Benefits of Using SSCC
The adoption of the SSCC translates directly into operational efficiency and cost savings. Utilizing the single 18-digit identifier for receipt dramatically reduces the labor hours required at the receiving dock compared to manually scanning product-level codes. This efficiency accelerates the flow of goods into the supply chain, decreasing detention time for carriers.
Improved inventory accuracy is a key benefit, as the SSCC provides a precise audit trail of the logistical unit from origin to destination. Reliance on automated scanning and EDI transactions minimizes manual data entry errors, leading to fewer discrepancies between physical counts and system records. Furthermore, using SSCCs is frequently a prerequisite for compliance with the receiving requirements of large retailers and e-commerce fulfillment centers.
Conclusion
The Serial Shipping Container Code is a mandatory component for navigating complex distribution networks and efficient global logistics. Its function as a unique identifier for every logistical unit underpins the speed and accuracy required in today’s rapid-paced supply chains. The SSCC enables the seamless data exchange that connects trading partners across the world.