Populating TI/HI
Recommendations on how to correctly load TI and HI
in ECCnet Registry
June 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
PURPOSE .................................................................................................................................. 3
2
BACKGROUND........................................................................................................................... 3
2.1
POPULATING TI/HI ................................................................................................................. 3
2.1.1 How to populate the Key TI/HI Attributes ............................................................................ 4
3
IMPACT ON TRADING PARTNERS ............................................................................................. 4
4
NEXT STEPS .............................................................................................................................. 4
5
FOR MORE INFORMATION ........................................................................................................ 4
Populating TI/HI
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1
PURPOSE
The purpose of this document is to address the established best practices for populating the Pallet TI and
Pallet HI fields within ECCnet Registry, Canada’s national product registry, and to inform users of the
application and ramifications of not following the best practices. TI/HI is sometimes referred to as Tie and
Tier.
2
BACKGROUND
In order to ensure usable information is contained within ECCnet Registry, accurate and precise Tie (TI)
and Tier (HI) information must be supplied in a timely manner for all new listings, as well as any changes
that occur with the Pallet configuration. Incorrect information shared between trading partners can cause
significant business challenges.
2.1
Populating TI/HI
TI/HI is a concept used to describe how a product is stacked on a pallet. TI is the number of cartons on a
layer (Tie), and the HI is the number of layers of cartons on a pallet (Tier). The TI/HI for the example
pallet displayed in Figure 1 would be 10x4.
TI - Number
of Cartons on
a layer = 10
HI – Number
of layers = 4
Figure 1 : TI/HI Example
This section explains how to populate attributes describing how a trade item is palletized or otherwise
prepared into a unit load (also sometimes known as a logistics unit). One of the most common forms of
unit load is the pallet, used for transportation and storage purposes.
Some companies use a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) to identify a standard pallet (or other unit load)
of a product as a trade item in its own right (i.e. it is priced, ordered and/or invoiced).
Other companies that have a product that only exists in a single unit load format (referred to as
palletization) may choose to send the palletization information associated with the highest level of the
product hierarchy, which is typically a case.
Populating TI/HI
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2.1.1
How to populate the Key TI/HI Attributes
1.1. Decide whether to use non-GTIN logistics unit or a GTIN logistics unit
1.1.1. If a standard logistics unit configuration is ordered, invoiced, or priced, a GTIN needs to be
assigned to it.
1.1.2. If there are multiple standard logistics unit configurations available for a synchronized item
within a target market, a GTIN needs to be assigned to each configuration whether or not it
is ordered, invoiced, or priced.
1.1.3. Today, there are two prevalent business practices for obtaining information when there is
only one standard logistics unit configuration in a target market:
1.1.3.1.
At the logistics unit level when a GTIN is assigned to the logistics unit.
1.1.3.2.
At the case level when a GTIN is not assigned to the logistics unit.
1.1.3.3.
There are additional attributes that need to be added to support this case
level processing.
1.2. Determine if the product is not palletized
1.2.1. If a product is not palletized, the vendor should indicate this within ECCnet Registry by
choosing Packed Loose.
3
IMPACT ON
TRADING PARTNERS
Incorrect TI/HI information can lead to many problems within the supply chain including improperly
packed trucks, retailer unable to receive orders, loss of time and money to re-set slots in the warehouse,
and unused space on store shelves.
4
NEXT S TEPS
Ensure that all of your TI/HI scenarios are entered properly into ECCnet Registry. If you provide any
custom formations, then assign a unique GTIN to each unique configuration to ensure that it is properly
loaded into ECCnet Registry and received by your trading partners.
5
FOR MORE INFORMATION
The complete Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) Trade Item Implementation Guide, Issue 9,
is available on GS1’s global wesbite at:
www.gs1.org/docs/gsmp/gdsn/GDSN_Trade_Item_Implementation_Guide.pdf.
GS1 Canada offers education on the practical application of all standards and on how to implement these
standards within your company.
If you have questions in this regard, please contact GS1 Canada at 1-800-567-7084 ext. 3.
Populating TI/HI
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