SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code)
The Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) is an 18-digit GS1 identification number that gives a single physical shipping or handling unit — a pallet, case, carton, or parcel — a globally unique identity for logistics and receiving. It is encoded in a GS1-128 barcode on the shipping label and transmitted in the Advance Ship Notice sent ahead of the shipment, so a receiving warehouse can scan one code and know a pallet's full contents without opening it. Unlike a GTIN, which identifies a product, or a GLN, which identifies a location, an SSCC identifies one specific logistics unit, in transit, right now.
How an SSCC is built
| Component | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Extension digit | 1 digit | Assigned by the company to expand numbering capacity |
| GS1 Company Prefix | Variable | Assigned to the company by GS1 |
| Serial reference | Variable | Assigned sequentially by the company |
| Check digit | 1 digit | Calculated using the standard GS1 algorithm |
The extension digit, company prefix, and serial reference together total 17 digits; the check digit makes 18. Each SSCC identifies a logistics unit — any combination of trade items packaged together for storage or transport — not a product. Serial references aren't intended for near-term reuse, so in practice each SSCC can be treated as unique to the specific shipment it identified.
SSCC vs GTIN vs GLN
| Identifier | Answers | Example |
|---|---|---|
| GTIN | WHAT is it | A 12-pack of a specific SKU, reused across every unit made |
| GLN | WHERE is it | A warehouse, store, ship-to address, or legal entity |
| SSCC | WHICH UNIT, right now | This specific pallet, on this truck, on this delivery |
A GTIN describes every unit of a product ever made; a GLN describes a fixed location or party; an SSCC exists for the life of one shipment and is never reused for another.
Label to ASN to receiving dock
The SSCC is encoded into a GS1-128 barcode and printed on the GS1 logistics label applied to the pallet or carton — it's the one field every such label carries. Before the shipment arrives, the supplier transmits an Advance Ship Notice (EDI 856 in ANSI X12, or DESADV in EDIFACT) that maps each SSCC to its full contents: which cartons, which items, which quantities, down to the pallet.
At the dock, the receiving warehouse scans the single SSCC barcode and matches it against the pre-sent ASN or DESADV data, which tells the system the pallet's full configuration without anyone opening or manually counting it — the mechanism that makes automated receiving and cross-docking possible.
Where mismatches cause problems
The SSCC only works if the code on the label matches the code in the transmitted ASN exactly. The common failure modes: a label reprinted without regenerating the ASN, a label and ASN built from different data snapshots, or a barcode that's damaged or unreadable at the dock. Any of these makes the shipment effectively invisible to a retailer or distributor's automated receiving system, forcing manual intervention and receiving delays, and can trigger compliance penalties from large trading partners.
Because SSCC accuracy depends on the same master data pipeline that feeds GDSN and EDI transactions, gaps here are rarely a labeling problem in isolation — they usually trace back to inconsistent product and shipment data further upstream.
Frequently asked questions
What is an SSCC used for?
An SSCC uniquely identifies a single shipping or handling unit — a pallet, case, or parcel — so a receiving warehouse can scan one barcode and match it to the Advance Ship Notice data already on file, confirming the full contents without opening the unit.
How many digits does an SSCC have?
18. It's made up of a 1-digit extension digit, a variable-length GS1 Company Prefix, a variable-length serial reference, and a 1-digit check digit — the extension digit, prefix, and serial reference together total 17 digits, plus the check digit.
What's the difference between an SSCC and a GTIN?
A GTIN identifies a product — every unit of that SKU ever made shares the same GTIN. An SSCC identifies one specific physical shipping unit, such as a single pallet on a single delivery, and is never reused for another shipment.
Can an SSCC be reused?
Serial references aren't intended for near-term reuse, so each SSCC can be treated in practice as unique to the shipment it was assigned to — unlike a GTIN, which is reused across every unit of a product.
Where does the SSCC actually appear?
It's encoded in a GS1-128 barcode printed on the shipping label affixed to the pallet or carton, and it's also transmitted electronically in the Advance Ship Notice (EDI 856 or EDIFACT DESADV) sent ahead of the shipment, so the two can be matched at receiving.