Overview
ISO/IEC 19987:2024 - EPC Information Services (EPCIS) is the third edition of the GS1-derived standard that specifies EPCIS Version 2.0. EPCIS defines a common information model, bindings and service interfaces to enable disparate applications to capture, exchange and query visibility event data about physical and digital objects across enterprises. The standard supports sharing a shared view of an object’s lifecycle in a business context, improving traceability, inventory control and cross‑company collaboration.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Abstract data model and core event types: standardized event structures (EPCISEvent and subclasses such as ObjectEvent, AggregationEvent, TransactionEvent, TransformationEvent and the new AssociationEvent) and event “dimensions” - What, When, Where, Why, and the new How.
- Syntax and bindings: supports XML and the new JSON / JSON‑LD syntax, with formal validation guidance (XSD, JSON Schema, SHACL references) and examples.
- Service layer and APIs: Capture and Query service definitions with both REST bindings (new) and legacy SOAP/WSDL, plus other transport bindings (HTTP, AS2, message queue). Covers authentication, authorization, pagination, and error mappings.
- Extensibility and vocabularies: distinction between standard vocabulary and user vocabulary, identifier representation, hierarchical vocabularies, and extension mechanisms for master data and instance/lot data (ILMD).
- Sensor and certification support: new SensorElement for sensor-derived data and certificationInfo in core events for provenance and compliance metadata.
- Operational aspects: query control interface, named queries and subscriptions, query callback bindings, conformance clauses and backward compatibility considerations with EPCIS 1.2.
- Notable changes from 2017 edition: JSON/JSON‑LD, REST bindings, UML overhaul, new event types and dimensions, Persistent Disposition, SensorElement, and updates to query semantics.
Applications
- Supply chain visibility and tracking (inventory, shipments, aggregation)
- Product traceability and recall management (food, pharmaceuticals)
- Cold-chain monitoring and sensor data integration (temperature, humidity)
- Manufacturing processes (transformation events, aggregations)
- Compliance, audit trails and certification provenance across trading partners
Who should use this standard
- Enterprise architects and IT teams implementing supply‑chain systems
- Software vendors building EPCIS servers/clients, middleware and IoT gateways
- Logistics providers, retailers, manufacturers and healthcare organizations
- Standards and compliance teams aligning with GS1 system architecture
Related standards
- ISO/IEC 19988 (Core Business Vocabulary / CBV) - referenced for vocabulary and cross‑references
- GS1 System Architecture components - EPCIS integrates with GS1 capture/share layers
Adopting ISO/IEC 19987:2024 (EPCIS 2.0) helps organizations implement interoperable, extensible object‑visibility solutions using modern web formats (JSON‑LD, REST) while maintaining compatibility with established XML/SOAP deployments.