What is a GLN Number?
A GLN number (Global Location Number) is a number with 8, 12, 13, or 14 digits that uniquely identifies the physical location of a company or a part of that company as an address. It is commonly used in the transportation sector because the GLN number identifies a specific department of a company rather than the entire company. An advantage of using a GLN number over a custom code to specify a department is that it is a unique code established according to certain rules. This reduces confusion between different types and formats of internal codes used by companies. You can look up the information associated with a GLN number in the GS1 GLN database (the organization that assigns and maintains these numbers).
Using GLN Numbers in Billit
In Belgium, companies are typically registered on the Peppol network with their VAT number. However, foreign companies or those without a VAT number sometimes register their business on the Peppol network using their GLN number. As it is a unique number, the GLN number serves as a secure identifier.
Billit allows you to use a GLN number to send a Peppol invoice instead of a VAT number. This can be useful, for example, when sending an invoice to a specific department of a company or when a company is registered with Peppol only through its GLN number. To do this, click on the plus sign next to the VAT number field in the customer record and choose GLN. In the new field, you can enter the GLN number. Unlike VAT numbers, Billit does not automatically retrieve information from a GLN number from the database. You can find the information associated with a GLN number yourself via https://gepir.gs1.org/index.php/search-by-gln. Please note that even if you use GLN numbers as the identifier for your customer to send via Peppol, you must fill in the 'VAT number' field for VAT-liable companies in coutries where VAT-number is mandatory on your invoice.
