Run real-time translations
The Electronic Product Code (EPC®) is an identification structure for physical objects, including trade items, logistics units, locations, documents, and other physical assets. The EPC is designed to be used in a variety of ways, and different forms of the EPC exist to serve those needs.
The EPC Encoder/Decoder is an interactive application that translates between different forms of the Electronic Product Code (EPC), following the GS1 EPC Tag Data Standard 1.13. You may enter data in any box, and the other boxes will automatically update to show the translation.
Why is this helpful and/or necessary?
Each GS1 Identification Key (GTIN®, GLN, SSCC, GRAI, GIAI, GSRN, GDTI et al) may be encoded in an EPC structure, typically for use in an RFID tag or EPCIS. The “Pure Identity” form of the EPC is the main form that business applications and information systems use when they want to refer to any object by its EPC identifier.
The EPC “Tag URI” and “EPC Binary Encoding” are specific to the use in RFID systems. The Tag URI is used in some RFID software, and the EPC Binary Encoding is what is actually programmed into the tag’s memory as the EPC.
If you are starting from a U.P.C. or a GTIN-13, you will need to enter all 14 digits into the encoder to generate EPCs. You’ll also need to know the length of the GS1 Company Prefix in order for the tool to work properly. (You can find your GS1 Company Prefix on the original license certificate you received from GS1 when your company became a member. Login to myGS1 US and click on 'Prefix Certificates').
You will find this tool helpful in translating keys encoded in a barcode with various AIs into an EPC representing the same identifier, or vice versa (i.e. – Serialized GTINs or SSCC in barcodes – translated into EPC form and back).