There are no small errors in healthcare. An incorrectly recorded batch, mixed-up packaging, or an untraceable drug recall—all of these directly impact people's health and lives. Furthermore, behind every doctor's prescription lies a vast, complex logistical machine: manufacturers, distributors, warehouses, medical organizations, and pharmacies. Record-keeping procedures may vary for each participant.
GS1 standards emerged as an attempt to bring order to this data chaos. But in medicine, they have played a special role: they have not only accelerated logistics but also made treatment safer. To make this effect tangible, technologies have been added to the standards—primarily reliable barcode recognition, which can be integrated into IT systems. Solutions like the
VintaSoft Barcode .NET SDK are in demand here, as they transform barcodes on packaging into accurate digital data ready for use in business processes.
Healthcare supply chain: When "It works as is" no longer works
If you look at any large medical center or pharmacy chain from the inside, it quickly becomes apparent: logistics are more complex than in many industries. Thousands of products, different manufacturers and suppliers, numerous regulatory requirements, expiration date monitoring, separate regulations for cold chain, expensive implants and consumables.
For a long time, many organizations relied on local article number systems, spreadsheets, and manual entry. The same drug might have its own internal code at the manufacturer, another at the distributor, and a third at the pharmacy or hospital. Linking these worlds is possible, but at the cost of considerable effort and constant approvals.
The more participants and the higher the regulatory requirements, the less viable this approach becomes. A clear demand arises: a common, universal way to describe products, their movements, and statuses is needed so that everyone sees the same thing.
GS1 as a common language for goods, places and logistic units
GS1's goal is to provide market participants with a unified "vocabulary" and "grammar" for describing supply chain objects. In medicine, these objects include drugs, medical devices, logistics units (boxes, pallets), locations, and supply chain participants.
Each object is assigned a globally unique identifier. The most well-known is the GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), which allows for unambiguous identification of the drug or product in question, regardless of country and local accounting system. Locations and organizations receive their own GLN (Global Location Number) identifier, and for logistics units such as pallets or boxes, the SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) is used.
It's important not only to design these identifiers but also to make them machine-readable. To achieve this, GS1 defines the barcode format and the rules for how to "package" data within them. Two-dimensional codes, typically GS1 DataMatrix, are increasingly seen on drug and medical device packaging. In addition to the GTIN, it often contains the expiration date, batch number, and sometimes the serial number.
How GS1 is transforming every link in the supply chain
Manufacturer of medicines and medical devices
For a manufacturer, GS1 implementation typically means:
- product serialization (assigning a GTIN + serial number to each unit);
- application of GS1 DataMatrix codes or other GS1-compatible barcodes;
- automated generation of SSCCs on shipping packaging;
- generation of electronic messages for distributors and regulators.
Effect:
- less manual data entry, fewer document errors, greater transparency of inventory balances and product movement, and readiness to meet the requirements of different countries without rebuilding the IT infrastructure from scratch.
Distributor and logistics operators
In distribution centers and warehouses, GS1 enables:
- quickly identify incoming pallets, boxes, and individual packages;
- automate receiving and shipping through barcode scanning;
- track the movement of batches and serial numbers;
- respond promptly to requests to recall a specific batch.
Effect:
- reduced processing time, fewer invoice discrepancies, simplified audits and inspections, and increased trust from manufacturers and healthcare organizations.
Hospitals, clinics, pharmacies
For healthcare facilities and pharmacies, GS1 standards:
- ensure accurate identification of medications or products at the patient's bedside;
- help prevent the use of the wrong medication or product (the "similar packaging" error);
- simplify inventory control, write-off, and replenishment;
- make it possible to link logistics data (what exactly, when, and where it came from) with clinical events.
Effect:
- a real increase in the safety and quality of treatment, fewer losses due to expiration dates, transparent control over expensive implants and materials.
Regulators and patients
For regulators, GS1 is a tool that facilitates market control:
- traceability, reporting, and combating illegal trafficking.
For patients, GS1 combined with digital technologies means:
- protection against counterfeiting;
- the ability to verify drug authenticity through apps and information services;
- more information about the drug and its supply chain.
The role of barcode recognition technologies in the GS1 ecosystem
Standards alone are ineffective without technologies that enable:
- quickly and reliably reading barcodes in real conditions (wrinkled packaging, low lighting, various angles, print quality);
- interpreting received data taking into account the GS1 barcode structure and "Application Identifiers";
- integrating scan results into existing business processes and IT systems.
Software libraries and SDKs for barcode recognition, such as
VintaSoft Barcode .NET SDK, play a critical role here. They enable developers to:
- embed barcode scanning into desktop, server, web, and mobile .NET applications;
- process large volumes of scans in background mode;
- integrate scanning with accounting modules, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, laboratory information systems (LIS), medical information systems (MIS), warehouse management systems (WMS), and other systems.
Essentially, such SDK becomes a bridge between the world of physical packaging (where the GS1 barcode is applied) and the world of digital data (where decisions are made).
Technology foundation: How VintaSoft Barcode .NET SDK helps implement the GS1 approach
From the perspective of an IT department or developer implementing GS1 in a company, the key question is: how can we ensure that all applications in the ecosystem work consistently and reliably with barcodes?
Using the
VintaSoft Barcode .NET SDK offers several practical advantages:
- The SDK fits seamlessly into a .NET infrastructure. The SDK can be embedded in both rich clients and web applications and server modules.
- A unified recognition engine simplifies maintenance. Instead of maintaining different libraries for a warehouse, pharmacy, and clinic, you only need to configure and test the SDK once, and then replicate it across the required system components.
- This platform enables centralized scanning quality control. This is important not only for receiving and issuing goods, but also, for example, for checking the legibility of new batch markings on the manufacturer's side or for auditing the quality of deliveries on the logistics partner's side.
- The VintaSoft Barcode .NET SDK solution allows for gradual system development. Scanning can be implemented initially at critical points (for example, in a pharmacy or a central warehouse), then expanded to branches, operating rooms, mobile teams, and remote units.
A step-by-step approach to implementing GS1 and scanning technologies
To ensure that GS1 standards truly transform supply chains and don't remain just on paper, it's important to develop a step-by-step plan.
Step 1. Analysis of current processes and scanning points
- How are drugs and medical devices currently identified?
- Where do they receive, store, move and issue?
- At what points is it planned to use scanners and cameras (warehouses, pharmacies, departments, operating rooms)?
Step 2. Defining the target GS1 identification model
- What objects need to be uniquely identified (packages, boxes, pallets, lots, serial numbers)?
- Which GS1 standards will be used (GTIN, GLN, SSCC, etc)?
- What types of barcodes are planned to be applied to the packaging?
Step 3. Selecting and implementing image capture hardware
- Camera Types (handheld, stationary, built-in cameras).
- Operating Conditions (illumination, distance, conveyor speed).
- Compatibility Requirements with Existing IT Infrastructure.
Step 4. Selecting an SDK and implementing the software for recognizing barcodes in captured images
Determine requirements for recognition performance and reliability.
Selecting an SDK compatible with the technology stack being used, such as
VintaSoft Barcode .NET SDK for a .NET environment.
SDK Integration with:
- Accounting and logistics systems;
- Clinical systems (where necessary and acceptable);
- Analytical and reporting modules.
Step 5. Training personnel and changing regulations
- Training on the correct use of scanners and software modules;
- Updating instructions for receiving, issuing, and inventory;
- Training staff on new reports and analytics.
Step 6. Continuous monitoring and improvement
- Quality control of labeling by suppliers;
- Analysis of incidents (missing codes, data errors, shortages);
- Tuning algorithms and processes based on real practice.
Instead of a conclusion: From standards to real value
GS1 standards themselves are a set of rules and agreements. They don't treat patients, accept goods, or conduct inventory. But they create a foundation on which such processes can be made predictable, transparent, and secure.
Using the
VintaSoft Barcode .NET SDK in GS1-based projects allows for the creation of such a "bridge" between the physical world of labeling and information systems. As a result, standards cease to be abstract and become a tangible tool for transforming healthcare supply chains.
