What is meant by the shipping unit number (SSU)?
The shipping unit number, or NVE for short, is a unique number used to identify a shipping unit such as containers, cartons or pallets. The code is internationally called SSCC-18 (Serial Shipping Container Code).
What is the structure of a shipping unit number (SSU)?
The number has a total of 18 numeric characters and is often encoded with an EAN-128 barcode. It can be read by means of a scanner.
The 18 digits of the NVE are used as follows:
- 1st digit = reserve digit, which can be chosen by the company itself
- 2.-8. Digit = GS1 base number of the company, which can also be a total of 8 or 9 digits long
- 9.-17. Digit = Consecutive number of the NVE
- 18th digit = check digit calculated from the preceding digits.
What are the advantages of the shipping unit number (SSU)?
- Seamless shipment handover and tracking
- Clearly identifiable at all levels of the supply chain
- Prerequisite for track and trace processes
- Machine processing enables integration into EDI processes
