License plate the iso standard for transport package identifiers

DHL Express Global Head Office

License Plate –
The ISO standard for transport package identifiers
Global Business IT – Martin Treder
November 2012

License Plate – The ISO standard for transport package identifiers

(I)
THE LICENSE PLATE
CONCEPT

Bonn | November 2008 / September 2012 Page 2

Rationale

Why do we need ISO standards for package identification and labeling?
Are standards really so important for identification and data exchange?
 Is it sufficient for a conversation that we can talk to each other?
 Not really!
讀音統一會 ‫اللغة العرب‬

 We’d rather speak the same language!
 A standard in identification and data exchange is like a common language!

Numerous ISO standards are available for package identification and labeling:

 Transport Label (ISO 15394)
 License Plate (ISO 15459)
 Code 128 barcodes (15417) with Data Identifiers (ISO 15418)
 Country Codes (ISO 3166) and calendar date format (8601)
 Structure of data in 2D codes and RFID tags (ISO 15434)
 …

Note: The Transport Label used by DHL Express has been based on these standards since 2007.


Package Identification with ISO License Plates

The ISO Standard for Package Identification: License Plate
 The development
 The License Plate standard has started in 1996 as a European standard EN 1572.
 It became an international ISO/IEC standard 15459 in 1999.
 Since then the License Plate standard has been the only system to uniquely allocate
identifiers to packages around the world.

License Plate is supported and used by various companies
and industry organisations around the world:
ISO
Dun &
Bradstreet License
Unitrans
Plate (DHL)
... NATO GS1 SSCC VGL
(DHL)

Norsk
Odette
Edipro Siemens
UPU

IBM
TNT
Edifice
And many others – 40+ organisations
(September 2012)


Piece Identification with ISO License Plates

The ISO Standard: License Plate
General structure of a License Plate
 The structure Data Identifier (ASC MH10 standard)
or Application Identifier (GS1 standard)
 Each License Plate starts with a unanimous
Issuing Agency code (IAC) Issuing Agency Code (ASC MH10)
or packaging identifier / number
 ISO has appointed the Dutch Standardisation extension (GS1 128 code list)

Institute (NEN) as Registration Authority One or more Sub-Issuing
Agency Codes* (ASC MH10)
or Company Prefix (GS1)
 Today, only international non-profit organisations
can become Issuing Agency. These organisations Serial number
Assigned by the
can allocate sub-ranges to other organisations or (Sub-)IAC

companies. Data IAC Sub-IAC Serial
Data IAC Sub-IAC Serial
 The ISO License Plate standard consists of two
distinct sub-standards:
 ASC MH10: Alphanumeric License Plates,
consisting of up to 35 characters
 GS1 SSCC: Numeric License Plates, always
exactly 18 digits long Example of an ASC MH10 License Plate
(issued by DHL Benelux, former VGL)
 License Plates are unambiguously marked as
* The Sub-IAC number is not mandatory
such in bar-coded form, using Data Identifiers or
Application Identifiers.



The ISO Standard: Piece ID versus Shipment ID
 Shipment ID and Piece ID are logically different
 A Shipment ID specifies the transport order (from A to B; one or more packages)

 A Piece ID specifies the single package, covering all potential transports

 Using the same ID for piece and shipment causes issues
 Return shipments need a new shipment ID (new origin, new destination etc)

 As a consequence, the piece ID would have to be changed as well

 Think of it in the following way:

The License Plate is a package’s PASSPORT The shipment ID is the same package’s TRAVEL TICKET

 Of course you don’t need a new passport for each trip. You keep the same passport for
years, and you get a new ticket whenever you travel



The ISO Standard: How long is a License Plate valid?
 Duration of License Plate allocation to a package
 We need clear definitions: Is the License Plate valid for one single transport
process only? For a full transport chain but not beyond? Does it include possible
returns? What about storage times? Can the same License Plate be used for a
package as long as the content of the package remains untouched?
 General definition: A License Plate is the “passport” of a package –
independently of who “owns” the package. Consequently, a package should –
yet does not have to – keep its License Plate number as long as it remains closed.
 To obviate any problem of ambiguity during transport, a clear distinction between a
transport process number (Shipment number or Waybill number) and an piece
number (License Plate) is necessary. While the License Plate is the “passport”, the
shipment number can be considered the “travel ticket”.

5. .. First transport: identifier known to sender
1234
CLOSED
CLOSED
?? Return: different identifier?
4567
8. ..



(II)
LICENSE PLATE AS PART OF THE OVERALL
ISO IDENTIFICATION CONCEPT


The Overall ISO Identification Concept

The Problem: Unique identification
The challenge is well-known to everybody who has to determine the right identifiers on a unit:
•How do I know which barcode is the right one for my purpose?
•More importantly, how does my IT system know that I have scanned the right barcode?

This problem occurs when you determine the identity of packages, products, reusable
containers, production lots etc. It is valid for transport packages, goods packages and the goods
themselves.

The Overall ISO Identification Concept

ISO License Plates are part of a versatile ISO identification concept
For unique identification, ISO has developed the concept of Data Identifiers:
•Each identifier encoded on a label is preceded by a unique sequence of characters that tells the
capturing application what type of identifier it is.
•The Data Identifier always consists of one capital letter (A-Z) which may be preceded by up to three
numerals. Examples of syntactically valid Data Identifiers are A, 1A, 11A and 111A
•The identification of License Plates is part of this concept. Valid Data Identifiers for License Plates are J,
1J, …, 8J (where the simple J is used predominantly)
•In conjunction with the Issuing Agency as it is used for License Plates, it is possible to unambiguously
allocate identifiers for packages, products, reusable containers, production lots etc.
•The following examples show how similarly the same concept applies to different types of identifiers:
a) Package Identifier (License Plate) barcoded as J J D00 1234567890:
The leading J is the Data Identifier for globally unique License Plates. The following J is the Issuing Agency
Code (UPU), D00 is the Sub-Issuing Agency Code granted to Deutsche Post DHL.
Global uniqueness of the resulting LP is granted as long as the last part (1234567890) is unique within DP DHL.
The License Plate barcode is easily spotted on a package through the heading “J”
b) Serial Number barcoded as 25S J D00 1234567890
25S is the Data Identifier for globally unique serial numbers, the following J is the Issuing Agency Code (UPU),
D00 is the Sub-Issuing Agency Code granted to Deutsche Post DHL.
Again, global uniqueness of the resulting serial number is granted as long as the last part (1234567890) is unique
within DP DHL. A Serial number barcode is easily spotted on a package through the heading “25S”
•Data Identifiers (and their equivalent Application Identifiers) are standardised in ISO 15418. The
maintenance of Data Identifiers has been delegated to ANSI MH10 1)
•The whole concept equally applies to barcodes, 2-dimensional codes and RFID tags

1)
MH10, Unit-Loads & Transport-Packages, is an ANSI Accredited Standards Committee
Bonn | November 2008 / September 2012 Secretariat: Material Handling Industry, 8720 Red Oak Blvd., Suite 201, Charlotte, NC 28217-3992
Page 10


(III)
LICENSE PLATE AND DHL
EXPRESS



What do transport companies offer to customers with own LP today?
(1) Basic: Usage as Customer Reference Codes.
 Link must be created with a certain effort: Either through combined scanning of carrier
barcode and sender barcode (error-prone) or through data transfer from sender to carrier
(error-prone, as well)
 Carrier databases often archive the own identifiers only; reference codes are discarded.

(2) Next step: Some carriers support only some License Plates (often GS1 SSCC)
 No full support of ISO 15459
 Where ASC MH10-LP are used by sender, they have to be added (or replaced!) by GS1
SSCC. This violates the ISO standard and creates ambiguity. Keep off!

(3) The approach of DHL Express is a comprehensive one
 Full support of ISO 15459: All ASC MH10 and GS1 License Plates are accepted
 All customers’ ISO License Plates can be used with all DHL Express products
 No additional DHL-specific identifier is required any more! (Customers’ reference codes
remain possible, of course)
 Label layout follows ISO standard, including sufficient space for customer information
 DHL Express offers a plug-in to customers called Global Label Service (GLS). This tool
renders DHL labels automatically, including the determination of handling codes required
by DHL. Even joint customer/DHL labels are possible.


Flexible Piece Identification with ISO License Plates

What does DHL Express offer to its customers?

DHL supports the following cases:
a) DHL Header turns proprietary company identifiers into globally unique License Plates
DHL offers an own DHL License Plate header that turns existing proprietary package identifiers into
globally unique License Plates. This works wherever only upper-case chars and digits are used.
This results in a 1:1 relationship between a company’s proprietary identifiers and the respective
License Plates. No IT system other than printing and scanning of LP barcodes needs to be adapted
Example for package identifier of company Y: MUC2 12 412551
MUC2 Production Plant
12 Department
42155 Internal serial number of department
1 Internal check digit

Resulting DHL License Plate : JD00 8 1234 MUC2 12 412551
JD00 DHL’s Issuing Agency Code
8 DHL’s code for Key Account customer number ranges
1234 DHL’s number for Key Account customer Y
MUC2 12 412551 Original customer Y code

The customer just adds “JD0081234” before printing the barcode.

Bonn | November 2008 / Septemberwithin LP have been added for readability only!
Spaces 2012 IAC = Issuing Agency Code Page 13



b) A company that uses own ISO License Plates
DHL Express processes this company’s ISO License Plate as DHL’s leading piece identifiers.

Example of a Siemens AG License Plate that DHL Express can scan and process:

SI A1234567 7 1234567 0001

This structure has been defined with the adoption of the UCR (Unique Consignment
Reference Number), following the internal Siemens standard SN 18630 (EGP 208-256):

IAC OrgID Y Numerator Package No.

S I A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Y 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 0 0 1

Source: “EU Customs Code Reform & New EDI Version 7.2006 ”, Siemens GPL IAC = Issuing Agency Code




c) A company that uses ISO License Plates from 3rd party suppliers
DHL processes these ISO License Plate as DHL’s leading piece identifiers. All checkpoints
will be captured directly against these identifiers.

Example Epcos: LE EPC 81863675 001
LE Issuing Agency Code of EDIFICE (Epcos is member)
EPC Sub-IAC allocated to Epcos
81278048 Delivery note number, Epcos-Internal
001 Package count

Source: EPCOS IAC = Issuing Agency Code




d) License Plate number ranges issued by DHL
Whenever none of the previous cases applies, DHL provides the customer with a License
Plate range.
That range is usually big enough to last longer than one year. As a result, customers can
start with the first number after the last one has been used.

Example: JD00 029 30001 000456
J Issuing Agency Code of UPU (Universal Postal Union)
D00 Sub-IAC allocated to DHL
029 DHL’s country code for Italy
30001 Number for customer X in Italy
000456 sequential number: The 456th package shipped by customer X

After package 999999, this customer can re-start with number 000000! There is no need to
ever ask DHL for a new number range again!
IAC = Issuing Agency Code



Here’s another example of a global organisation that offers License Plates to
hundreds of members: HIBCC
(HIBCC is an industry-sponsored nonprofit council which was organized by major healthcare associations in 1983)

G1.0 Unique Transport Unit Identifier
Shipping containers (Unit Loads and Transport Packages) may be identified by a symbol that
carries the Unique Transport Unit Identifier.
G1.1 Format Type
The Unique Transport Unit Identifier shall be the unique transport unit identifier using the ANSI
MH10.8.2 Data Identifier “J”:
G1.2 Scope
HIBC-LIC labeling may use ANS MH10.8.2 Data Identifier “J”. See section G2.0 for the data
structure of the unique transport unit identifier.
G2.0 Data Structure
The data structure using the ANSI Data Identifier “J” is as follows:
JLHH123Z987654321 , where
•J = ANS MH10.8.2 Data Identifier “J” – Unique Transport Unit Identifier.
•LH = Identifier for the Registration Authority – HIBCC/EHIBCC.
•H123 = HIBCC / EHIBCC Labeler Identification Code.
•987654321 = Shipper’s assigned number for the transport unit. (maximum 13 alphanumeric
characters).

Source: THE HEALTH INDUSTRY BAR CODE (HIBC) SUPPLIER LABELING STANDARD 2.3 (2009)


Avoiding Ambiguity with ISO License Plates

The fact that DHL Express support non-DHL License Plates has an impact on processes

 Where a customer uses his own LP, DHL Express will not add a DHL LP. The reason is
that it would result in two different LPs on the same package.
 This is not supported by the ISO standard, and it would lead to ambiguity. Automated
scanning processes, for instance, would not know which of the two LPs to use
 The risk is that a company can place its
LP anywhere on the package – they
are not always easily spotted by DHL.
 The example on the right side shows
such a valid LP.
 If the customer sends this LP in his EDI
message, DHL will make all other LP
barcodes on the package unreadable.
 Even without EDI, DHL staff is advised
to use this License Plate, to avoid the
allocation of a DHL LP
 The customer will benefit from this
approach. He just needs to send his
own LPs in his EDI messages. 18

Bonn | November 2008 / September 2012 Page

Avoiding Ambiguity with ISO License Plates

Not being aware of customer LPs creates issues

 The example on the right side (spotted in DHL’s
CVG HUB) was extended by a customer
barcode, on request of the customer
 Neither DHL Express nor the customer had
realised that the customer’s barcode is a valid
ISO License Plate. Impact:
1) The customer cannot track on dhl.com
using his own identifier
2) We end up with four barcodes on the
package while we only required three of
them. This results in compressed
information and scanning issues
3) Autosorters will send all shipments of this
customer to the hospital area, as there are
two different LPs on the same package.
 The correct approach would have been to print
the customer’s License Plate at the bottom
of the label, replacing the DHL LP.


Track&Trace with ISO License Plates

What would a tracking system show?
Example: History of a transport order, a 2nd transport order and a return to sender – all with same License Plate

time Event LP Shipment
Order JD01234567890 1000000000 • Allocates LP to shipment
PU JD01234567890 1000000000 no 1000000000
piece with LP DF JD01234567890 1000000000
sent for 1st AF JD01234567890 1000000000 • Releases LP from
time
DF JD01234567890 1000000000 shipment no 1000000000
AR JD01234567890 1000000000
OK JD01234567890 1000000000 Network completion: successful delivery
LP is now free and
can be used again
Order JD01234567890 2000000000 • Allocates LP to shipment
PU JD01234567890 2000000000 no 2000000000
piece with DF JD01234567890 2000000000
same LP sent AF JD01234567890 2000000000 • Releases LP from
2nd time shipment no 2000000000
DF JD01234567890 2000000000
AR JD01234567890 2000000000
• Triggers creation of the
following transport order
RD JD01234567890 2000000000 LP is now free and
RT JD01234567890 2000000000 Network completion: return to sender is immediately
Order JD01234567890 3000000000 • Allocates LP to shipment allocated to the
3rd transport DF JD01234567890 3000000000 return shipment
no 3000000000
process: AF JD01234567890 3000000000
return of 2nd DF JD01234567890 3000000000 • Releases LP from
process shipment no 3000000000
AR JD01234567890 3000000000
OK JD01234567890 3000000000 Network completion: successful delivery



(IV)
LICENSE PLATE AND RFID


ISO License Plate and RFID?

RFID Standards – The Application Family Identifier (AFI)

• The Application Family Identifier specifies the location of the tagged item in the
logistical hierarchy. IT is defined in ISO/IEC 15962 Information technology—
Automatic identification and data capture techniques ----Radio frequency
identification (RFID) for item management.
• ISO/IEC 15962 specifies that the application will define the specific AFI. Below is a
table of the AFIs assigned for the ISO 1736x series of standards. Piece IDs

AFI Assignment ISO Standard
(Hex)
A1 17367_Non-EPC ISO 17367 – Supply chain applications of RFID – Product tagging

A2 17365_Non-EPC ISO 17365 – Supply chain applications of RFID – Transport unit

A3 17364_Non-EPC ISO 17364 – Supply chain applications of RFID – Returnable transport item

A4 17367_HazMat ISO 17367 – Supply chain applications of RFID – Product tagging (HazMat)

A5 17366_Non-EPC ISO 17366 — Supply chain applications of RFID – Product packaging
Container IDs
A6 17366_HazMat ISO 17366 – Supply chain applications of RFID – Product packaging (HazMat)

A7 17365_HazMat ISO 17365 – Supply chain applications of RFID – Transport unit (HazMat)

A8 17364_HazMat ISO 17364 – Supply chain applications of RFID – Returnable transport item (HazMat)

A9 17363_Non-EPC ISO 17363 – Supply chain applications of RFID – Freight container

AA 17363_HazMat ISO 17363 – Supply chain applications of RFID – Freight container (HazMat)

Definition of AFI values and application


Hybrid: Joint RFID and Barcode Label?
 Yes! Each of ISO’s barcode standards has an RFID equivalent meanwhile
Application & data length requirements for UII’s

Transport Unit Product Package Item Returnable Grouping
TU Unit RTI
Licence
Plate and UII ISO/IEC 15459-1 15459-4 15459-5 15459-6

Transport
Barcode ISO 15394 ISO 22742
Label!
RFID ISO 17365 ISO 17366 ISO 17367 ISO 17364

Data length 20, max.35 32 max. 50 20, max.50 20,max.50
(ASCII an)

Table 2 Data length for Unique Identifiers according to ISO&IEC AIDC and application standards

 That means that a combined approach is already possible today: Combined thermo-
printers/RFID coding units can print a standard label while coding a passive transponder that
is incorporated in that label. This also indicates a migration approach.
 As with 2-dimensional barcodes, the unique piece identifier (License Plate) should in any
case be printed on the label in addition – in the traditional way, both in plain text and as
barcode.
 Here, RFID does not necessarily have to be used by all partners in a logistic chain. It may be
a means of communication between sender and the receiver’s assembly line. All partners in-
between (warehouse, forwarders, ...) may simply ignore it and work on the basis of the visible
part of the label.
Bonn | November 2008 / September 2012 Automated Data Capture
1) Page 23


Which RFID Tags for ISO License Plate identification?
 DHL Express supports all ISO 15459 License Plates, with up to 35 alphanumeric characters.
 This requires at least 240 bit tags.
 Attention: EPC usually promotes 96 bit chips. These are sufficient for GS1 SSCCs (a small
subgroup of ISO License Plates) but NOT for all ISO License Plates!

UII size Applications Availability*

96 bits Low capacity chips for limited applications, typically for numeric highest
UII’s
128 bits Medium size for applications where not the max. data length is high
required or for numeric data
240 bits Fits to most applications high

352 bits Satisfies every application for SCM lower

496 bits Max. UII size according to ISO/IEC 18000-3.1 M2 and 18000-6C low

typical memory sizes for UII’s reserved in a RFID chip


License plate the iso standard for transport package identifiers

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