GIAI

Global Individual Asset Identifier (GIAI) is a GS1 standard for globally identifying a single, specific asset throughout its lifecycle. It provides a unique, persistent identifier that can be used across organizations and systems, enabling accurate asset tracking, data exchange, and lifecycle management in a supply chain or enterprise environment.

A GIAI value is assigned to an asset by its owner and is designed to stay with the asset as it moves between locations or companies. The identifier can be conveyed in various data carriers, most commonly in GS1-128 barcodes or RFID tags, using the GS1 data syntax that signals a GIAI is present. The GIAI data may be issued in a core format, and may also include an extension component to carry asset-related details such as type, serial-like attributes, or ownership information. There are two primary formats: a GIAI without extension and a GIAI with extension.

Applications and use cases for GIAI span industries such as manufacturing, logistics, facilities management, information technology asset management, and healthcare. The standard supports precise asset records, streamlined maintenance and service workflows, and improved auditability. By separating the global identifier from the associated data, GIAI enables organizations to reference assets reliably in ERP, enterprise asset management (EAM), and other systems while protecting sensitive details in backend databases.

Governance and adoption: GIAI values are established and managed within the GS1 system. Organizations obtain a GIAI prefix through their GS1 member organization and assign unique GIAI values to their assets, ensuring global uniqueness and interoperability across trading partners.