The abbreviation GLN stands for Global Location Number and refers to a worldwide unique identification number for companies, organizational units, and locations. It enables the clear assignment of businesses, branches, warehouses, or departments in international business processes. The GLN is mainly used in the context of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) to identify business partners uniquely. Without a GLN, standardized EDI communication is not possible, as each participant must be identifiable through their individual number. Furthermore, the GLN serves as the basis for generating other GS1 identification numbers such as the GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) and the SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code).
