3PL 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.

Serialized Operations Manager Owners

3PLs send the Decommission message to Pharmaceutical Manufacturers when:
  • Damage happens to the product while in the warehouse.
  • The 3PL or CMO receives instructions to destroy returned goods.
3PLs send the Decommission message to Pharmaceutical Manufacturers when:
  • Damage happens to the product while in the warehouse.
  • The 3PL or CMO receives instructions to destroy returned goods.
3PLs send the Destroy message to Pharmaceutical Manufacturers to destroy products if:
  • Damage happens to the product while in the warehouse.
  • The 3PL or CMO receives instructions to destroy returned goods.
3PLs send the Destroy message to Pharmaceutical Manufacturers to destroy products if:
  • Damage happens to the product while in the warehouse.
  • The 3PL or CMO receives instructions to destroy returned goods.
3PLs send the Receipt Event message to Pharmaceutical Manufacturers to confirm the receipt of serialized goods. 3PLs use this message when:
  • A Pharmaceutical Manufacturer requests a receipt confirmation from the 3PL after shipping them serialized goods.
  • A Pharmaceutical Manufacturer requests a receipt confirmation if a 3PL transfers serialized goods to a different 3PL warehouse.
  • A Pharmaceutical Manufacturer requests a receipt confirmation from the 3PL if an end customer returns finished goods back to the 3PL.
3PLs send the Receive Event message to Pharmaceutical Manufacturers to confirm the receipt of serialized goods. 3PLs use this message when:
  • A Pharmaceutical Manufacturer requests a receipt confirmation from the 3PL after shipping them serialized goods.
  • A Pharmaceutical Manufacturer requests a receipt confirmation if a 3PL transfers serialized goods to a different 3PL warehouse.
  • A Pharmaceutical Manufacturer requests a receipt confirmation from the 3PL if an end customer returns finished goods back to the 3PL.
3PLs send the Shipment Event message to Pharmaceutical Manufacturers communicating aggregation, repackaging, and shipping data. When a 3PL delivers to the downstream trade partners, transfer goods between warehouses, or return goods to the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, this action triggers the communication of all serialized data back to the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer.
3PLs send the GS1 USHC Shipment message to Pharmaceutical Manufacturers communicating aggregation, repackaging, and shipping data. When a 3PL delivers to the downstream trade partners, transfer goods between warehouses, or return goods to the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, this action triggers the communication of all serialized data back to the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer.

3PLs send the Shipment Event message to Pharmaceutical Manufacturers communicating aggregation, repackaging, and shipping data. When a 3PL delivers to the downstream trade partners, transfer goods between warehouses, or return goods to the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, this action triggers the communication of all serialized data back to the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer.

3PLs receive the Shipment Event message from Pharmaceutical Manufacturers when a shipment is sent from the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer to a 3PL, which communicates the commission, aggregation, repackaging, and shipping data using GS1 EPCIS events.
3PLs send the Take Product Sample message to update item status to "Sampled" when quality personnel remove serialized product for sampling purposes. This enables a Serialized Operations Manager Owner to:
  • Disaggregate items from the container if already packed.
  • Trigger a notification to the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer which may trigger government reporting by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer for the sampling of serial numbers.
3PLs send the Update Serial Number Status message to the TraceLink system to report a status update to one or more serial numbers. This can be used to correct mistakes or indicate certain state changes.

Serialized Operations Manager Partners

3PLs send the Receipt Event message to Pharmaceutical Manufacturers to confirm the receipt of serialized goods. 3PLs use this message when:
  • A Pharmaceutical Manufacturer requests a receipt confirmation from the 3PL after shipping them serialized goods.
  • A Pharmaceutical Manufacturer requests a receipt confirmation if a 3PL transfers serialized goods to a different 3PL warehouse.
  • A Pharmaceutical Manufacturer requests a receipt confirmation from the 3PL if an end customer returns finished goods back to the 3PL.
3PLs send the Receive Event message to Pharmaceutical Manufacturers to confirm the receipt of serialized goods. 3PLs use this message when:
  • A Pharmaceutical Manufacturer requests a receipt confirmation from the 3PL after shipping them serialized goods.
  • A Pharmaceutical Manufacturer requests a receipt confirmation if a 3PL transfers serialized goods to a different 3PL warehouse.
  • A Pharmaceutical Manufacturer requests a receipt confirmation from the 3PL if an end customer returns finished goods back to the 3PL.
3PLs send the Shipment Event message to Pharmaceutical Manufacturers communicating aggregation, repackaging, and shipping data. When a 3PL delivers to the downstream trade partners, transfer goods between warehouses, or return goods to the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, this action triggers the communication of all serialized data back to the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer.
3PLs send the GS1 USHC Shipment message to Pharmaceutical Manufacturers communicating aggregation, repackaging, and shipping data. When a 3PL delivers to the downstream trade partners, transfer goods between warehouses, or return goods to the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, this action triggers the communication of all serialized data back to the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer.
3PLs send the Shipment Event message to Pharmaceutical Manufacturers communicating aggregation, repackaging, and shipping data. When a 3PL delivers to the downstream trade partners, transfer goods between warehouses, or return goods to the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, this action triggers the communication of all serialized data back to the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer.
3PLs receive the Shipment Event message from Pharmaceutical Manufacturers when a shipment is sent from the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer to a 3PL, which communicates the commission, aggregation, repackaging, and shipping data using GS1 EPCIS events.
3PLs send the Update Serial Number Status message to a Pharmaceutical Manufacturer to report a status update to one or more serial numbers. This can be used to correct mistakes or indicate certain state changes.