Parallel Importer 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

Parallel Importers 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. Parallel Importers maintain Partner Master Data for two main purposes:

  • Compliance Reporting – The TraceLink system generates compliance reports by pulling partner master data information (e.g. alternate identifiers, business names, addresses) associated with the trade partner or location.
  • US Product Track – Parallel Importers create links that connect trade partners to the Product Track application so that Transaction History (TH), Transaction Information (TI), and Transaction Statement (T3) compliance data may be exchanged when the product moves through the supply chain to fulfill DSCSA requirements.
TraceLink is solely a consumer of Master Data and is not considered the Master Data system of record.

Product Master Data Owners

Parallel Importers 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 Parallel Importers to provide TraceLink with information about products that are subject to track and trace or serialization requirements. Parallel Importers maintain Product Master Data for three main purposes:

  • Serialization - Parallel Importers that use TraceLink Serial Number Manager and/or Serial Number Exchange must provide product master data as prerequisite configuration information in order to configure products that are serialized in Serial Number Manager and Serial Number Exchange.
  • Compliance Reporting – The TraceLink system generates compliance reports by pulling product master data information (e.g. product identifiers and product attributes) associated with the product for a particular target market.
  • US Product Track - The TraceLink system pulls product master data information (e.g. alternate product identifiers and product information) looks up alternate product identifiers and product information associated with the product and sends the data in the T3 as the product moves through the supply chain to fulfill DSCSA requirements.
TraceLink is solely a consumer of Master Data and is not considered the Master Data system of record.