GLN: definition and role in PIM

In PIM practice, GLNs identify the manufacturer, brand owner, information provider and data recipients in product data exchange. GS1 GDSN messages, for example, use GLNs to state who publishes a product and who receives it. Some PIM systems store GLNs as attributes for manufacturer and supplier records.

Illustrative example: a food manufacturer publishes products to a GDSN data pool using its own GLN as information provider. Each retailer subscribes with its own GLN, so the data pool knows which retailer receives which items.

In a selection, GLNs matter when the buyer syndicates through data pools or receives supplier data from them. Buyers should check whether the PIM handles party identifiers and target markets per recipient. GLNs also support GPSR and traceability requirements, where the manufacturer and responsible party need clear identification.