The Global Location Number (GLN) serves as a unique, globally recognized identifier for companies and their physical locations within the modern supply chain. This standardized system provides a foundation for accurate data exchange and efficient logistical operations across international borders. Understanding how to manage this identifier is a significant step for any business engaging in structured commercial trade. Finding an existing GLN or registering a new one can seem like a complex process for companies new to standardized commercial systems. This guide provides actionable steps for businesses seeking to locate their current GLN or initiate the process of obtaining a new one.
Understanding the Global Location Number
The Global Location Number is a non-ambiguous code designed to identify a legal entity, such as an entire company, or a specific physical location, like a warehouse, office, or manufacturing plant. This uniform identification system prevents miscommunication and ensures that business partners are always referencing the same entity or site. The GLN is typically composed of 13 digits, adhering to a globally consistent structure that allows for international recognition.
The number is constructed to be machine-readable, making it suitable for automated systems and large-scale data processing. The GLN establishes identity and location, separating it from product identifiers such as the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN). These other codes identify what is being traded, while the GLN identifies where the trade is occurring or who the trading partner is. A business might use a single GLN for its headquarters, or it may assign several different GLNs to various specific points, down to a single receiving bay.
Why the GLN is Essential for Business Operations
Utilizing the GLN significantly streamlines the flow of information between trading partners across the supply chain. The identifier provides a globally recognized address for communications, eliminating the need to rely on less structured text fields for location data. This standardization is particularly useful in Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) systems, where automated transactions require precise and unambiguous identification of the sender and receiver.
Major retailers and large-scale distributors often mandate the use of GLNs for all vendors as a prerequisite for onboarding and continued compliance. The inclusion of a GLN on shipping manifests, purchase orders, and invoices enhances the accuracy of inventory tracking and fulfillment processes. This consistent system reduces manual data entry errors and accelerates the reconciliation of business documents between different organizations.
The Role of GS1 in Issuing and Managing GLNs
The global system of identifiers, including the GLN, is administered by GS1, a neutral, non-profit organization that develops and maintains global standards for business communication. GS1 operates through a network of local member organizations that serve businesses within their respective countries. Companies must first become a member of their national GS1 organization to gain access to the identification system.
Membership grants the company a unique sequence of digits known as the GS1 Company Prefix. This prefix is the foundational element from which all other GS1 identifiers, including the GLN, are generated and assigned. The structure of the GLN incorporates the Company Prefix along with a Location Reference number, ensuring the identifier is unique at both the company and specific location level.
The local GS1 organization provides the tools and guidance necessary for members to properly construct and manage all their assigned GLNs. This central management ensures that no two organizations or locations anywhere in the world inadvertently share the same identifier. The organization also maintains the official registry of all issued prefixes.
Step-by-Step Guide to Locating Your Existing GLN
Checking the GS1 Member Portal
The most direct method for locating an existing GLN is by accessing the online portal provided by your national GS1 Member Organization. Companies that have previously registered for identifiers will have login credentials for a member dashboard or data management system. Within this secure environment, the GLN is typically displayed under sections labeled “My Identifiers,” “Company Information,” or “Location Keys.”
The portal also shows the company’s foundational GS1 Company Prefix, which is used to derive the complete location number. Businesses can manage and view all associated location numbers for various sites from within this centralized platform. The GS1 portal is designed to be the single source of truth for all standardized identifiers a company utilizes.
Reviewing Existing Business Documents and EDI
The GLN is frequently embedded within the digital and physical documents exchanged with trading partners, making these records a reliable secondary source for locating the number. Companies should review recent Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) transmissions, specifically looking at purchase orders, invoices, and shipping notices. In these standardized electronic messages, the GLN is used in designated segments to identify the buyer, the seller, and the precise delivery location.
Physical documents such as supplier agreements, vendor onboarding forms, and master data files maintained by your accounting or logistics departments also routinely contain the assigned GLN. Searching through archived agreements with major retailers or distributors is an effective way to confirm the identifier that has already been shared and used in commercial operations.
Contacting Your GS1 Member Organization
If the online portal is inaccessible or a search of internal documents proves unsuccessful, the next step is to directly contact the customer service department of your local GS1 Member Organization. The staff has access to the official registry and can retrieve the GLN associated with your company’s membership. You will need to provide identifying information such as the company’s legal name, primary address, or the specific GS1 Company Prefix if it is known.
This step is useful if the administrative contact for the GS1 membership has changed or if login credentials for the member portal have been lost. The GS1 organization can verify the registered identifiers and assist in recovering access to the online management tools. Their support team can confirm the exact 13-digit GLN allocated to your business entity.
Assigning GLNs to Different Business Locations and Entities
While a single company will have one primary GLN representing its legal entity, complex businesses often require multiple GLNs to accurately distinguish between various operational sites. A separate location number should be assigned to any site that needs to be uniquely and unambiguously referenced in the supply chain. This practice allows trading partners to specify a delivery or pickup point with certainty.
For example, a company might assign one GLN to its corporate headquarters, a second to its main manufacturing plant, and a third to a remote distribution center. The system is granular enough to differentiate specific internal areas within a single facility, such as assigning unique GLNs to different loading docks or receiving departments. Assigning these distinct identifiers ensures that logistics and inventory management systems can accurately track the movement of goods without relying on ambiguous text descriptions.
A new GLN must be generated and registered whenever a company opens a new physical facility or establishes a new legal entity that requires independent identification for business transactions. This process ensures that the new location can be immediately recognized and integrated into the standardized data exchange systems of all trading partners.
The Process for Obtaining a New GLN
Companies that have confirmed they do not possess an existing GLN must begin the acquisition process by formally joining their regional GS1 Member Organization. Membership is the prerequisite for receiving any globally standardized identifiers, including the location number. The application process typically involves submitting company details and paying an initial membership fee, which is often tiered based on the company’s annual revenue or size.
Upon successful registration, the company is assigned its unique GS1 Company Prefix, which acts as the foundational building block for all subsequent identifiers. The new member then uses this prefix, along with the guidelines provided by GS1, to construct its first GLN, which usually identifies the legal entity itself. This first number is the one that will be shared with the majority of business partners for general administrative purposes.
Additional location numbers can be generated from the same prefix as the business expands its physical footprint or operational complexity. The local GS1 organization provides online tools that allow members to self-generate and manage the complete portfolio of GLNs derived from their assigned prefix.