EPCIS

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EPCIS ( Electronic Product Code Information Services) is a standard developed by GS1 , the first version of which was published in 2007. This essentially specifies interfaces for recording and querying so-called EPCIS events. EPCIS enables users ( companies , authorities , supply chains, etc.) to significantly increase transparency and control over their respective processes.

Working principle

General

EPCIS can be used both internally and across companies. It requires standardized identifiers (e.g. a GTIN, GRAI, SSCC etc. in URI format in accordance with the GS1 EPC Tag Data Standard) and is independent of the data carrier (i.e. in addition to RFID as a data carrier for EPCs, the GS1-128 or a GS1 data matrix can be used).

EPCIS event types

Depending on their needs, companies can choose between four different EPCIS event types that are to be saved at the individual recording points. For this purpose, a process or requirements analysis should take place in advance. The following event types are specified:

  • Object Event (The focus here is the pure observation of objects.)
  • Aggregation event (Here child objects are assigned to a parent ident. This event type is useful, for example, when picking, where articles are assigned to a box or boxes to a pallet.)
  • Transaction Event (The read objects are linked to a transaction ID. The latter can be the number of an invoice or a shipping notification, for example.)
  • Transformation event (acquisition of 1-n inputs, which are irreversibly processed to 1-n outputs.)

(Note: The so-called quantity event became obsolete with EPCIS V. 1.1, since from this point on all EPCIS event types can also map non-serialized object identifiers.)

Recording of EPCIS events

At each point at which EPC data is recorded (i.e. by means of an RFID reader or barcode reader), the following attributes are saved as EPCIS events:

  1. "WHAT?": EPCs that B. encrypt a serialized product code (SGTIN) or a shipping unit number (SSCC)
  2. "WHERE?": Respective reading point (e.g. "Reader 12345") or business location (e.g. "Goods issue area 2 in warehouse A")
  3. "WHEN?": Time stamp (with a corresponding distance from the coordinated universal time )
  4. "WHY?": Business process (e.g. incoming goods) or status (e.g. "sold")

These events are stored by the respective company in a so-called EPCIS repository (or database).

Query of EPCIS events

The real added value of EPCIS lies in the querying of this fine-grained event data. Companies have two options for this:

  • One-time query ("on demand")
  • Subscription ("standing queries")

For both options, the EPCIS standard offers a wide range of options for creating queries with which the individual information requirements can be precisely narrowed down. After defining the required parameters (period, event type, EPC class, reading point, business process, etc.), the results of the queries only contain those EPCIS events that meet the selected parameter values. With the option of querying via web services, querying EPCIS events can also be easily integrated into service-oriented architectures .

Core Business Vocabulary

In 2010, GS1 ratified a standard based on EPCIS, which defines the essential, ie cross-industry, vocabulary elements and their values. The Core Business Vocabulary (CBV) specifies the following vocabulary elements:

  • Business processes ("business steps") that can be assigned to the EPCIS events (e.g. receipt, picking, etc.),
  • Conditions ("dispositions") such as B. salable, in transit etc. as well
  • Business transaction types, ie invoices, delivery notices, etc.

Use cases / benefits

EPCIS can be used in a wide variety of applications, including:

EPCIS is also given great importance in the context of supply chain event management , with which companies can recognize critical deviations in their supply chains in good time and react appropriately. I.a. In particular, by being able to link EPCIS events with specific business documents (transaction events, see above), it is possible to check in almost real time whether the right objects are going to the right place in the right time and in the right quantity.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ EPC Information Services (EPCIS) ( gs1.org ).
  2. ↑ EPC Tag Data Standard ( gs1.org )
  3. ^ Core Business Vocabulary. ( Memento from December 17, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) gs1.org
  4. ↑ See GS1 Germany ( Memento of the original from April 11, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.gs1-germany.de
  5. ^ R. Tröger, R. Alt: Service-oriented Supply Chain Event Management - a Case Study from the Fashion Industry. In: W. Abramowicz, R. Alt, K.-P. Fähnrich, B. Franczyk, L. Maciaszek (eds.): Informatik 2010 - Business Process and Service Science - Proceedings of ISSS and BPSC. Volume 3, Bonn 2010, ISBN 978-3-88579-271-0 , pp. 31-42.