Common Terms
A party is an entity that needs to be represented in a business-related transaction. A GLN identifying a party answers the question of “who”. This may be a legal entity or function.
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Legal Entity: any business, government body, department, individual, or other institution that has standing in the eyes of the law and has the capacity to enter into agreements or contracts.
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Function: a department performs specific tasks, such as an accounting department, purchasing department, pharmacy, etc.
A location is a particular place or position. A GLN identifying a location is used to answer the question of “where” something has been, is, or will be and can be physical or digital in nature.
- Physical Location: a tangible place that may be represented by an address, coordinates, or other means. Examples include a manufacturing facility, distribution center, dock door, farm, or bin location.
- Digital Location: an electronic (non-physical address) such as an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) gateway.