Technological capabilities are always changing and evolving, so the regulations and standards guiding their use must also change and evolve. We live in a global world, so alpha-and/or-numeric strings must be global as well. One important thing to understand is the bifurcation of these numbering systems—a serial number is not the same as a license tag.
VIN, IMEI and MIL STD 130 are Serial Numbers
Most of us are familiar with a vehicle identification number (VIN) that is affixed to every motor vehicle on the planet. Fewer of us know what an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) number is, but it’s easy enough to find out because one is stored on your cellphone, uniquely identifying it. The last, the MIL STD 130, is likely the least known. It is the serial number assigned to all matériel procured by the U.S. Dept. of Defense.
DMVs and large Institutions Issue License Tags
Most people don’t think much about how we are required by law to register our motor vehicle VINs on centralized government databases before we can be issued a license plate. Large institutions—corporations, defense contractors, universities and governments—similarly license their property by affixing an asset tag with the name of their organization and a unique number.
GS1 and MPIDR Issues License Tags
There are only a few companies that issue fully integrated, globally unique and globally traceable identification numbers. GS1, the developer of the barcode, has two such products: the Global Individual Asset Identifier (GIAI) and the Global Returnable Asset Identifier (GRAI). It’s critical to understand that these identifiers can only be issued after the rightful owner is established.
An Instantaneous-Issuance Leader
Many companies claim to issue unique, alpha-and/or-numeric strings, but these strings are useless unless they are tied to a person or entity at the time they are issued. With the click of a button, My Property ID Registry assigns globally unique and globally traceable numbers directly to small entities—individuals, families, hobbyists, farmers, ranchers, small businesses and tiny municipalities—that have created the account. It’s this instantaneous linkage and global accessibility that makes us a leader in our industry.