Can a GLN be reused if a location closes?

No. GS1 rules require a deactivated GLN not to be reused for at least 48 months from deactivation.

Difference between GLN and GTIN?

GTIN identifies a product (what); GLN identifies a location or legal entity (where/who).

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Operations Glossary
GLN (Global Location Number)

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Category: Tehnologie · Acronym: GLN

GLN (Global Location Number)

Quick answer: 13-digit GS1 code uniquely identifying a location (HQ, warehouse, store, delivery dock).

Key takeaways

NAD+BY (Buyer) → buyer GLN
NAD+SU (Supplier) → supplier GLN
NAD+DP (Delivery Place) → delivery location GLN (usually the retailer store/DC, NOT the legal seat)
NAD+IV (Invoicee) → invoicing entity GLN

Definition

GLN (Global Location Number) is a 13-digit GS1 identifier marking a unique physical or legal entity in a commercial transaction: legal seat, warehouse, store, retailer delivery dock, specific receiving bay.

How it appears in EDI

NAD+BY (Buyer) → buyer GLN

NAD+SU (Supplier) → supplier GLN

NAD+DP (Delivery Place) → delivery location GLN (usually the retailer store/DC, NOT the legal seat)

NAD+IV (Invoicee) → invoicing entity GLN

Common confusion: physically shipping to the legal-seat GLN instead of the store GLN → rejected order and penalty.

Practical example: Carrefour

Carrefour has one GLN for the legal entity (invoicing) and separate GLNs for each hypermarket / distribution center. The supplier must keep a complete map: internal location code ↔ Carrefour GLN.

How to obtain one

Companies with a GS1 prefix issue their own GLNs

For retailer/partner GLNs, they are shared at onboarding or pulled from GDSN

Azuvio keeps a pre-mapped library for native retailers (Carrefour, Auchan, Kaufland, Lidl, Mega Image, Profi, Metro, Dedeman, Hornbach, Leroy Merlin)

Frequently asked

Can a GLN be reused if a location closes?: No. GS1 rules require a deactivated GLN not to be reused for at least 48 months from deactivation.
Difference between GLN and GTIN?: GTIN identifies a product (what); GLN identifies a location or legal entity (where/who).

Where Azuvio fits

Related terms

GS1 — The global organization managing trade identification standards: GTIN (EAN), GLN, SSCC, EANCOM.
SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) — Unique 18-digit code identifying an individual transport unit — pallet, case, container.
GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) — Global product identification code — base for EAN-13, UPC, marketplaces.
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) — Structured exchange of commercial documents between B2B partners, without emails or manual data entry.

Last updated: 2026-07-17