GS1 standards make a huge difference throughout the Retail sector, with bar codes and automatic data capture in use virtually everywhere.

With the GS1 System, products arriving at a retail store are typically receipted through the scanning of packaging-level bar codes.

Item-level bar codes are read at point-of-sale and this updates the store's inventory system. When pre-set stock levels are reached, this become an automatic trigger for re-ordering. Efficient collection of sales data has many uses for a retailer. 

GS1 systems can reduce or eliminate inefficiencies and make all the difference to the sustainability of some low-margin, just-in-time industries. Apparel and Textile are examples.

Global and non-proprietary GS1 standards can be applied and used at every stage of an international supply chain, despite barriers of distance, language and culture. There can be seamless exchanges of information as goods move from raw material to finished item.