I just read this story and loved how ATTITUDE can change the lives of people and companies. Maybe this story will give you some stimulus too.
At the beginning of the 20th century, an English shoe manufacturer was concerned about the drop in sales in England and decided to try to open new markets abroad. Its director called two of its salesmen and proposed they travel to Africa to promote trade and increase their sales.
Both salesmen left by boat for Africa with instructions to survey the market. Each of them would go to a different country to have two opinions about the potential of the African market.
Within days of arriving, the first salesman called the factory owner, informing him that after several days of visiting cities, he had concluded that the African potential for shoe sales was null. “Boss,” he said, “here they all go barefoot. No one wears shoes. We are not going to be able to sell a single pair of shoes.”
The next day the second salesman called. He was excited and eager to speak to his boss. “Boss,” he said. “It’s fantastic. No one here wears shoes. No one sells shoes. We are going to sell thousands of pairs…”
The boss became delighted, making him collect more stock. Now the business started, it attracted a lot of customers to buy shoes. They faced difficulties and problems in selling their products as a company communication breakdown, leading to price differences and left customers dissatisfied because of miscommunication portraying them as corn salesmen. Two, business losses led by poor organization and differences in shoe prices.
GS1 standards can provide a framework and solutions to improve these issues through improved communication, streamlined processes, and enhanced supply chain visibility
Communication breakdowns and miscommunication:
With GS1-compliant identification and communication methods, companies can accurately exchange product information with trading partners, reducing the likelihood of miscommunication or errors in pricing and product descriptions.
Price differences and customer dissatisfaction:
GS1 standards help establish a common language for product identification, allowing retailers and suppliers to accurately track and manage inventory. This reduces the chances of discrepancies in product pricing and ensures that the right products are available at the right prices in different sales channels. As a result, customers are less likely to encounter price differences or receive incorrect information, leading to increased satisfaction.
Business losses and poor organization:
GS1 standards promote efficient and standardized business processes, such as using Global Location Numbers (GLNs) to identify business locations and Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) to synchronize product data. By implementing these standards, companies can improve their supply chain visibility, optimize inventory management, and reduce operational inefficiencies. As a result, businesses are better organized, reducing the risk of losses due to inventory mismanagement and other operational issues.
Differences in shoe prices:
GS1 standards for product identification, such as GTINs, allow for unique product identification across the supply chain. This helps prevent confusion between similar products and ensures consistent pricing for specific shoe models, regardless of the sales channel. Retailers and manufacturers can use GTINs to accurately identify and price their products, avoiding discrepancies in shoe prices.
GS1 standards provide a comprehensive framework for product identification, data sharing, and supply chain management. By adopting GS1 standards, companies can enhance communication, reduce miscommunication, improve supply chain efficiency, and provide a better customer experience, ultimately leading to increased profitability and success.