Are you making the most of your GS1 membership? Here are 5 tips to consider

The businesses and organisations who are our members are at the heart of everything we do. As a not-for-profit, member-owned organisation, we exist to serve the needs of industry—your needs. Whether you're a startup launching your first product or a large enterprise managing complex supply chains, your membership unlocks a suite of tools, services, and support designed to help you succeed.

Here are five top tips for how every GS1 New Zealand member can make the most of their membership - have you heard of them all?

1. Use your free barcode graphics and verification reports

Have you approached GS1 New Zealand for barcodes? Every year, members of GS1 New Zealand receive 10 free barcode graphics to ‘bring to life’ Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs, aka ‘barcode numbers’. The graphics are professionally generated and ready to use by your graphic designer. What might be lesser known is that members also receive 5 free barcode verification reports from our verification team – measuring how well your barcodes scan and how they compare to global standards. Think of the verification service as being a way to help support getting your product to market smoothly to avoid costly delays or scanning issues at point of sale. You can also opt for interim verification reports – produced before your packaging artwork is printed. This can be beneficial as changes can be made to your packaging artwork before print production, avoiding what could be a costly re-print.

2. Get familiar with the MyGS1 member platform

Are you wanting a central place to manage your products, barcode number assignments and create ‘product passports’ that assist your product to be found on the web? The MyGS1 member platform – your central hub can help you manage your product information efficiently and help reduce errors, saving you time and money. It forms the central hub to your GS1 member experience. Used to identify over 700,000 products since 2008, we have been investing strongly in our digital capability and we are progressively migrating members across to a new and improved version of MyGS1.

3. Access priority support and expert guidance

Do you need help navigating GS1 standards or services? A core benefit of membership that members often leverage is the priority support and expert guidance that the GS1 support team can provide. Our team can help you with expert advice on barcoding, product data, and global standards – for free! As a member, you receive priority customer support via phone or email, and there is also a wealth of information available 24/7 on our comprehensive support centre. We’re here to support you - just ask!

4. Discover free training, events, and industry insights

Are you keen to learn more about how GS1 standards can accelerate your business? Members can stay ahead of the curve with free or discounted training sessions and events, such as our regular webinars, and foundation seminars. We have a mix of online and in-person training options which we hear really positive feedback on from members. These regular educational opportunities are designed to help you as you grow your business and apply GS1’s global standards to the way you work. Take for example the Barcode Quick Start webinar available at no cost to members – this is a 30 minute, interactive session where you can build your knowledge on barcodes and getting your product into market or into the supply chain. It helps you connect with experts who can support you to succeed.

5. Plug in to our global, member-driven network

Do you aspire to trade globally? Above all else, GS1 New Zealand helps you to have a voice in a global network of businesses working and trading globally. We are owned and governed by the 8,000+ businesses and organisations who are our members in New Zealand and globally connected to other GS1 member organisations around the world. Being globally connected means we can put you in touch with other GS1 organisations who may have worked with similar businesses facing similar challenges that you face. If you have a question about the implementation of GS1 standards in your business, and want to know how others around the world have approached the same challenge, we have a wealth of knowledge we can share. Get in touch!

6. BONUS tip – use your 5 FREE Global Location Numbers

Have you considered location identification for your business? The Global Location Number (GLN) is a globally unique, standardised identifier enabling organisations to answer the questions “who?” and “where?” within their organisation or supply chain. GLNs act as a key to automated business processes and visibility. Through our partnership with the NZ Government, all 2m+ businesses get a legal entity identifier based on the GLN standard – it’s called the NZ Business Number. As a member of GS1 New Zealand you receive five free additional GLNs, and preferential member pricing to license larger numbers of GLNs all through the MyLocations service inside MyGS1. These can be used to support the identification of digital, functional and physical locations to support eInvoicing and delivery points.

We are our members

Since 1979, GS1 New Zealand has been working alongside businesses and organisations in New Zealand to harness the power of global standards. Together, we’re building a more connected, efficient, and sustainable New Zealand. We encourage you to make the most of your membership. If you want to explore more of what’s available to you, visit gs1nz.org or reach out to our team.

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