GS1 North American Coupon Code barcode
The structured coupon barcode, Application Identifier (8110), carried in GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked.
Also known as: GS1 coupon, AI (8110), GS1-128 coupon, UPC coupon (number system 5), DataBar coupon
What is GS1 North American Coupon Code?
The GS1 North American Coupon Code is a structured data string under Application Identifier (8110) that tells a register who issued a coupon, which products it applies to, how much it is worth, and what the shopper has to buy to earn it. It is carried in GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked, replacing the old number-system-5 UPC coupon and the interim GS1-128 extended coupon, so the register can validate the offer against the basket instead of trusting a cashier.
Encodes: AI (8110) followed by the company prefix, offer code, save value, purchase requirement and rules, family code, and optional expiration, start date, serial, and retailer fields.
How GS1 North American Coupon Code is structured
The (8110) string is a series of fields, most introduced by a one-digit length indicator, followed by optional fields each introduced by a one-digit identifier. Registers parse it left to right.
| Part | Length | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Company prefix | VLI + 6 to 12 digits | Identifies the manufacturer or retailer issuing the offer. |
| Offer code | 6 digits | The specific promotion. |
| Save value | VLI + 1 to 5 digits | Face value in cents, or a code for free item and buy-one-get-one. |
| Primary purchase requirement | VLI + 1 to 5 digits, plus 1-digit requirement code | How many, how much, or how many dollars the shopper must buy, and what kind of rule it is. |
| Primary purchase family code | 3 digits | Which of the issuer’s products qualify; 000 means all, 992 to 999 mean the offer targets specific items. |
| Optional fields | Identifier + data | Additional purchase rules (1, 2), expiration date (3), start date (4), serial number (5), retailer ID (6), and save-value application flags (9). |
Specifications
- Application Identifier
- (8110) for the coupon code; (8112) for a paperless positive-offer file ID
- Carrier
- GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked, typically 4 symbol characters per row
- Length
- Variable, up to 70 digits
- Company prefix
- 6 to 12 digits, preceded by a variable-length indicator digit
- Offer code
- 6 digits, assigned by the issuer
- Save value
- Variable-length indicator plus 1 to 5 digits in cents
- Legacy formats
- Number-system-5 UPC-A coupon retired 2010; GS1-128 extended coupon retired after the DataBar transition
Dimensions are GS1 General Specifications targets. Confirm against the retailer’s current routing guide before a print run.
Where it is used
- Manufacturer coupons printed in circulars, on packs, and at shelf
- Retailer store coupons and loyalty offers
- Register validation: does the basket meet the purchase requirement before the discount applies
- Clearinghouse redemption and manufacturer reimbursement
Built by the promotion system from the offer definition
The coupon barcode is generated from the offer record: the family codes, save value, dates, and purchase rules a brand sets up in its promotion system and registers with the clearinghouse. The same family codes must be assigned to the GTINs in the retailer’s item file, or the register cannot tell whether the basket qualifies. A coupon is a data problem before it is a printing problem.
Retailers whose routing guides call for it
Each retailer page covers the transaction sets, labeling rules, and reported chargebacks behind the requirement.
Mistakes that cost money
Family codes not mapped to the GTINs
The register matches the coupon’s family code to the family code on each item. Products set up without one never qualify, and the coupon is rejected at the lane.
Still printing the number-system-5 UPC coupon
Retired since 2010. Many registers no longer read it, and those that do cannot validate the purchase requirement.
Missing expiration
Without the optional expiration field the coupon never ages out at the register, and reimbursement disputes follow.
Serial reuse on serialized offers
One-time-use coupons carry a serial; reused serials trip fraud controls and void the offer.
Too many optional fields for the label
Each field adds rows to the Stacked symbol. Keep to what the program needs.
How Endless handles GS1 North American Coupon Code
Endless carries coupon family codes on the product record alongside the GTIN and syncs them into retailer item setup, so offers built in the promotion system validate at the register and deductions for misredeemed coupons have a clean record to dispute against.
Frequently asked questions
Why did coupons move from UPC to DataBar?
The UPC coupon could only carry a manufacturer, a family code, and a value code, which registers could not validate against the basket. The (8110) string in DataBar Expanded Stacked carries the purchase requirements, dates, and serial, so the lane enforces the rules and fraud drops.
What is a coupon family code?
A three-digit code a manufacturer assigns to a group of its products. The coupon names a family code; each qualifying GTIN carries the same code in the retailer’s item file. If they do not match, the coupon does not apply.
Do digital coupons use this barcode?
Loyalty-linked digital offers usually bypass the barcode entirely and apply through the retailer’s system. Printed and print-at-home coupons still use (8110), sometimes with (8112) pointing to a positive-offer file.
Related symbologies
- GS1 DataBar Expanded→
The DataBar that carries weight, price, expiry, and lot alongside the GTIN, on fresh food and coupons.
- UPC-A→
The 12-digit retail barcode scanned at point of sale across North America.
Definitions in the glossary
- GTIN (Global Trade Item Number)→
A globally unique product identifier used across trading partners and marketplaces.
- Trade Spend→
The money brands pay retailers to promote and stock their products.
- Deduction→
Any amount a buyer subtracts from an invoice payment.
Browse the full barcode symbology guide.
See it on your channels.
Spend your time on the business, not the busywork. Book a demo and watch Endless run your operations across every channel you sell on.
Get a Demo