What serialization means
Serialization assigns a unique identifier — combining GTIN, serial number, batch/lot, and expiration date — to each individual saleable unit of a pharmaceutical product, enabling that specific package to be tracked through the supply chain.
Why unit-level matters
Batch-level tracking alone can't detect a single counterfeit or diverted package within a batch. Unit-level serialization makes individual-package verification possible at any point in the supply chain.
The role of 2D DataMatrix codes
GS1-compliant 2D DataMatrix barcodes encode the full set of identifiers in a compact, machine-readable format that can be scanned and validated at each handoff point.
From serialization to traceability
Serialization is the foundation; aggregation and EPCIS event reporting build the full track-and-trace capability that connects manufacturing, distribution, and dispensing.