Reporting — Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC-18): A Solution for Walmart's Packaging Needs

Customer requirements drive many of the functional enhancements in our product line. In this blog article, I’ll describe one such enhancement - SSCC-18 barcode support.

Serial Shipping Container Code

The Serial Shipping Container Code identifies an individual logistic unit. A logistic unit is a box, pallet or shipping container. Said differently, any combination of goods delivered as one unit. The SSCC is needed to track a logistical unit in orders, deliveries, and automated receipt of goods..

The Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC-18) consists of 18 digits encoded as a GS1-128 barcode. The barcode is composed of the following segments:

• Application Identifier (AI) is always (00).
• Extension Digit is arbitrarily assigned by the company that constructs SSCC. It can be any digit between 0 and 9.
• GS1 Company Prefix is a unique number issued to a company.
• Serial Reference is the number of a logistic unit within the company.
• Check Digit is a digit used to check for errors.

Source: https://www.gs1us.org/content/dam/gs1us/documents/industries-insights/standards/An-Introduction-to-the-Serial-Shipping-Container-Code-SSCC.pdf

For more information about the SSCC barcode, review the following PDF document: An Introduction to the Serial Shipping Container Code.

DevExpress Solution

We were recently informed by customers that Walmart decided to use the serial shipping container code encoded with the GS1-128 barcode as a mandatory element of the supplier shipping label.

DevExpress Reports can address Walmart’s requirements via our XRBarCode control. The XRBarCode control allows users to easily add the SSCC-18 barcode to reports.

In the Report Designer, drag the XRBarCode item from the toolbox and drop it onto the report area:

Once complete, simply set the Symbology property of the control to SSCC and specify a numeric value (17 digits) for the Text property. At this stage, the SSCC-18 barcode will be ready to use:

The SSCC symbology is available for the XRBarCode control on all supported platforms. You can also use the DevExpress Barcode Generation API Library to produce barcode images.

Sample Palette Label for Walmart

Walmart has updated its packaging standards for suppliers, and starting in early 2023, all suppliers are required to place a shipping container serial code (SSCC-18) on every pallet.

Each pallet must have a unique SSCC-18 code included in the shipping label. This requirement applies to all pallet shipments to Walmart regional distribution centers. In addition, unique SSCC-18 numbers must appear on Advanced Ship Notices (856) sent to Walmart.

Source: https://corporate.walmart.com/media-library/document/supply-chain-packaging-guide/_proxyDocument?id=00000173-a1ca-d3c5-a7fb-edcbf2400000

The XRBarCode control allows you to customize the barcode to meet these specific requirements. For instance, we created a sample report with a Pallet Shipping Label for Walmart Distribution and Fulfillment Centers – based on the specifications described in the following guide: Walmart Secondary Packaging Supply Chain Standards (PDF).

A demo label report tailored for Walmart appears as follows:

You can download the report (.REPX file) here for free, and change it to suit your needs.

DevExpress Reports and its barcode controls were designed to address a variety of packaging and shipping needs. If you are a Walmart supplier or simply wish to improve supply chain management, look no further than DevExpress Reports.

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