How GDSN works

Nobody connects to GDSN directly

GDSN is a network of certified data pools, not an endpoint you can call. Product data always travels through a data pool — for Belgium & Luxembourg that is atrify (1WorldSync), the pool behind GS1 BeLux "My Product Manager". The connector prepares your data in Business Central and talks to that data pool; the data pool talks to GDSN.

Prerequisites you need to hold yourself

A GS1 BeLux membership, your own company GLN and GTINs, and a data pool subscription that includes API access — some plans are web-interface only. These are contracts between you and GS1; the app cannot provide them.

What it does today

Your GDSN data model, inside your ERP

GDSN does not synchronise items — it synchronises trade items, where every packaging level is its own trade item with its own GTIN. The connector builds that model from the product data StarFood 365 already holds.

It is built to both the GS1 global GDSN model and the GS1 Benelux datamodel 3.1.36: the unit descriptor flags, UNECE Rec 20 measurement codes, GS1 packaging type codes, packaging hierarchy and referenced-file types are all there because those two standards require them.

📦

Trade items per packaging level

Consumer unit, case and pallet each become a trade item, generated from the GTINs and pack quantities already in StarFood 365.

  • Generated from your existing item data
  • Unit descriptors and GS1 flags
  • Net content with UNECE unit codes

GTIN validation

Check digits are validated on entry using StarFood's own GTIN logic, so a bad barcode is caught before it ever reaches a data pool.

  • Mod-10 check digit validation
  • Consistent with the rest of StarFood 365
  • Errors surfaced at the point of entry
🔗

Packaging hierarchy

Parent/child links with quantities, so the same case can sit under more than one pallet configuration.

  • Many-to-many hierarchy links
  • Quantity of next lower level
  • Measurements read from the unit of measure
🗂️

GPC classification

Import the official GS1 Global Product Classification publication and assign the mandatory brick code per item.

  • Official GS1 GPC import
  • Brick lookup and search
  • Multilingual brick descriptions
🖼️

Digital assets

Register product image and document URLs per trade item, with the file types GDSN expects.

  • Multiple referenced files per trade item
  • GS1 file type codes
  • Primary image flag
🔌

Ready to connect

The authenticated connection to the atrify data pool is built in: OAuth2 client credentials, a Test Connection action and a full message log.

  • OAuth2 client credentials
  • Secret held in Isolated Storage
  • Every call written to an audit log
Roadmap

Where the connector is heading

Getting your product data GDSN-ready is the groundwork, and it is the part that takes the longest. It is also the part you can start on today. Here is what we are building on top of it.

📤

Publishing

Sending your trade items to the data pool and on to your retail partners — the CIN and CIP flows.

📥

Receiving

Taking in trading-partner product data and returning confirmations — the CIC flow.

🇧🇪

Local market layers

BeLux local attributes and validation rules, with Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany and France to follow.

The first target market is Belgium (056), via GS1 BeLux and the atrify data pool. The architecture separates the shared GDSN core from the per-market rules, so each further market is a layer we add rather than a core we rebuild.

Documentation

Need technical or user guidance?

Use the links below for setup support, help resources and contact options.

📘

Product documentation

Browse the documentation hub for setup and operational guidance.

Open documentation

🆘

Help and support

Find troubleshooting steps and support channels.

Open help center · Open support page

💬

Talk to our team

Discuss your GDSN scope, target markets and timeline.

Request a consultation

Preparing for GDSN?

Let's look at your product range, your target markets and your timeline together, and map out the route to GDSN.

Get in touch → View Premium