The GS1 standards entail a system of standardised, non-overlapping numbers for the global identification of places, products and packaging units. This numbering system is supplemented by data capture options and communication standards. Professional cash handlers such as banks, cash-in-transit (CIT) and retail companies and central banks use the following identifiers, messages and identification options in their national cash cycles as well as for cross-border transports.

Identification

The GS1 Organisation provides a wide set of numbers to support logistic processes. Currently the following numbers are used in the cash cycles of the Central Bank GS1 User Group:

GLN (Global Location Number)

The GLN identifies professional cash handlers involved in the cash cycle. For tracking and tracing purposes GLNs can also be related to ATMs, cash points or cash processing systems.

GTIN (Global Trade Item Number)

Banknote and coin packaging units (e.g. banknote packets and bundles) are allocated a GTIN by the local central banks. In the Eurosystem, the ECB provides a harmonised list of common articles. The GTIN is not printed on the unit concerned, but is used to identify the products during electronic data transfer. Furthermore, GTINs can be allocated to cash services (e.g. withdrawal or lodgement).

SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code)

In order to clearly identify cash containers they are given an SSCC. This number enables the participants in the cash cycle to track their money en route from or to a specific central bank branch.

GSIN (Global Shipment Identification Number)

A GSIN helps to identify a logical grouping of logistic units. E. g. several lodgements and withdrawals of one CIT company can be united to one process. Each of the containing single transactions within this combined process is identified by an SSCC.

GRAI (Global Returnable Asset Identifier)

Reusable cash containers can be identified by a GRAI which enables tracking of the containers as well as recording relevant data. The GRAI remains the same as long as the container exists.

GIAI (Global Individual Asset Identifier)

As an alternative to the GLN cash machines can also be identified by a GIAI. This may be beneficial if there are several cash machines located at the same place, the latter identified with a GLN. The GIAI is also more flexible than the GLN with respect of individual numbering opportunities for the company that owns the machine.

GDTI (Global Document Type Identifier)

Applying the term “document” broadly to cover security, the future use case for the GDTI is the safeguarding of pallets of printing works deliveries and cross-border transports of banknotes. 

Data Capture

It is essential for the logistic process to provide a swift but secure way to identify cash containers, processes etc. Every GS1 identifier can be reproduced in machine-readable form, but for cash logistics mainly the container related identifiers like SSCC and GRAI are relevant for scanning. The GS1 provides different options for data capture like barcodes, 2D-Codes and even RFID solutions. The widespread adoption of the GS1 standards is also an advantage from a hardware procurement perspective. Most scanners can read GS1 identifiers without special programming.

Barcode (GS1 128)

The GS1 128 is the bar code type of the GS1 organisation. Barcode technology is well-known to the market, easy to implement and robust in logistics. Consequently, most central banks and professional cash handlers rely on the bar code for the identification of cash containers. It is used in every country of the Central Bank GS1 User Group.

2D-Code (GS1 Data Matrix)

The GS1 Data Matrix is the 2D-Code of the GS1 organisation. 2D-Codes can store more information and can be designed much smaller than a barcode. At present, their use for cash logistics is still the exception, but there are already some initial projects dealing with the use of GS1 Data Matrix, for example applying the GDTI on pallet seals.

EPC/RFID

The RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) technology is combined in the GS1 organisation with the EPC (Electronic Product Code). This data capture method enables cash containers to be identified in a fully automated, staff-free manner. However, it also requires considerable investment by all market players, which means that no corresponding activities can yet be seen in the cash cycles of the GS1 central banks.

Communication

The cash processes are supported by an electronic data exchange. The Central Bank GS1 User Group opts for GS1 XML as standard for communication and has harmonised several messages to allow both national and international data transfer. The messages shall comprise every aspect of the cash cycle. At the moment messages for the following processes are available:

• Deposits (announcement, receipt, finalisation)
• Deposits of non-conventional cash items (false, suspect money, etc.)
• Withdrawals (order, preparation, physical withdrawal)
• Combining several processes to one shipment (announcement, execution)
• Bulk-transfers (announcement, technical validation, receipt)
• NHTO operations (stocktaking)
• Cash handling machines (counting, operational and technical statistics)
• Customer master data (in preparation)
• Cash recycling (operational data)

The GS1 organisation is constantly updating its GS1 XML versions, but it also cares for downward compatibility. The update frequency in the national cash cycles is less regular, so that many of the Central Banks operate with GS1 XML 2.5 messages, focussing on a stable and cheap environment for the cash markets. But there are also cash cycles that are using more up-to-date GS1 XML 3.x formats. Especially central banks that are implementing the GS1 Standards in their national cash cycle opt for the newer versions.