NEW EVENT! Cutting-edge Trends for Life Sciences at PACK EXPO Southeast
Discover all the latest packaging solutions for life sciences products at the all-new PACK EXPO Southeast in Atlanta, GA, March 10-12, 2025

How to avoid the leading zero issue

There are a number of layers of software systems involved in serialization: line- and plant-level serialization systems, ERP-level serial number management systems, and network-facing EPCIS systems.

It’s important to understand how each of these systems represents, processes, and transforms serial numbers internally.

It turns out that some systems express serial numbers as character-based entities (letters), others express them as numeric entities (numbers).

What may seem like a quotidian trifle of interest only to math geeks can actually turn into a major business issue. Why? Character-based formats preserve any leading zeros that may be present in a serial number. As you were taught in grade school, numeric formats don’t. For example, “00012345” in a character-based system would become “12345” when stored in a numeric-based system.

INTRODUCING! The Latest Trends for Life Sciences at PACK EXPO Southeast
The exciting new PACK EXPO Southeast 2025 unites all vertical markets in one dynamic hub, generating more innovative answers to packaging challenges for life sciences products. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity for your business!
REGISTER FOR $30!
INTRODUCING! The Latest Trends for Life Sciences at PACK EXPO Southeast