Flexible SSCC Value of 18 or 20 Characters with SSRS

When the Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) Application Identifier is configured in Pacejet, Pacejet generates a 20-digit SSCC value and stores it in the database. See Configure GS1-128 Compliant Labels in Pacejet for the base configuration. SSRS label templates barcode-encode this value as an 18-character SSCC with the correct FNC1 character, in line with the GS1-128 standard.

This fully compliant encoding can cause problems for retailers whose scanners are older or less strict about GS1 barcode encoding. To handle these differences, Pacejet lets you adjust the SSCC value stored on a shipment and sent to your ERP for EDI, so the value a retailer scans always matches the value in your EDI transaction.

Why SSCC Length Can Vary by Retailer

The end goal of SSCC configuration is that a retailer scanning a label reads back an SSCC value that exactly matches what is in the EDI transaction. From a GS1 standards perspective, the SSCC value is 18 characters. Some retailers with older scanners instead need it to be 20 characters, since their equipment reads the raw barcode text without decoding the embedded application identifier.

To manage this retailer-by-retailer, Pacejet provides a rule you can install to conditionally trim the leading application identifier, "00", from the SSCC value based on a custom field match, for example a specific customer or ship-to account.

Base SSCC Configuration

The SSCC Application Identifier, SSCC Company Prefix, and SSCC Extension Digit settings under Setup control how Pacejet builds the base SSCC value for every shipment.

Installing the SSCC Trim Rule

Install the Trim SSCC value to a certain length rule to remove the leading application identifier for shipments matching a specific custom field value. Configure the following parameters on the installed rule:

Custom field to compare: the custom field Pacejet checks on the shipment, for example "EntityName".
SSCC is trimmed if value is: the value that custom field must match for the trim to apply, for example "Fastenal".
Trim SSCC to length of: the target length for the SSCC value, for example "18".

SSCC Behavior with the Rule Enabled or Disabled

Enabling or disabling the trim rule changes both the SSCC value stored on the shipment and the value sent to your ERP for EDI. The result depends on whether the rule is on or off for a given shipment; see below.

Rule Disabled

With the trim rule disabled, processing a shipment sends a 20-character SSCC value in the EDI. Printing the SSRS Retailer GS1-128 Label 4x6 template at the end of the shipment process still produces a standards-compliant GS1-128 encoded barcode. Scanners that decode GS1 elements read the application identifier "00" followed by an 18-character SSCC. Scanners that read the raw barcode text without decoding return the full 20-character value. Because the rule is off, the database and EDI value both stay at 20 characters, so either type of scanner reads a value that matches the EDI record.

Note: A compliant SSCC barcode encodes the application identifier "00", an 18-digit SSCC content with a valid check digit, and the FNC1 character immediately after the Code 128 start character. The barcode payload always matches the SSCC text printed beneath it.

Rule Enabled

With the trim rule enabled, Pacejet writes the trimmed 18-character SSCC value to the EDI feed, matching what modern scanners decode from the GS1-128 barcode.