CMO Use Cases

TraceLink Roles

TraceLink API Guides group messages by application. Each API Guide contains all messages available within that application. Your company's business type (e.g. CMO, Wholesale Distributor, 3PL) and role in the TraceLink Network (Owner or Partner1) determine which of these messages to develop (i.e. not all messages within this guide may fulfill your business or compliance needs).

See below to confirm which messages you should develop based on your role in the supply chain and/or the TraceLink Network.

Configure and exchange (send or receive) each message separately as a best practice.

Partner Master Data Owners

CMOs send the Partner Master Data message from an internal master data system (e.g. an ERP system) to TraceLink to add, update, or disable trade partner and/or location master data. You can also enter partner locations into Partner Master Data. CMOs maintain Partner Master Data for one main purpose:

  • Serialization – The TraceLink system generates serialization messages. by pulling partner master data information (e.g. alternate identifiers, business names, addresses) associated with the trade partner or location.
TraceLink is solely a consumer of Master Data and is not considered the Master Data system of record.

Product Master Data Owners

CMOs send the Product Master Data message from an internal Master Data system (e.g. an ERP system) to TraceLink to add, update, or disable Product Master Data. This message enables CMOs to provide TraceLink with information about products that are subject to track and trace and serialization requirements. CMOs maintain Product Master Data for one main purpose:

  • Serialization - CMOs that use TraceLink Serial Number Manager and/or Serial Number Exchange are required to provide product master data as prerequisite configuration information in order to configure products that are serialized in Serial Number Manager and Serial Number Exchange. Product Master Data also enables the system to route the data to the applicable trade partner.
TraceLink is solely a consumer of Master Data and is not considered the Master Data system of record.