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GS1 IS WORKING TO SUPPORT THE RETAIL INDUSTRY

GS1 is working to support the retail industry’s digital transition for the consumer’s ultimate advantage

As we celebrate the birth of barcode, GS1 community is committed to ensure that the retail industry digital transition is successful and the GS1 member community benefit immensely and meet their business needs. GS1 supports the digital transformation of the retail industry from a linear barcode to a 2D barcode that is built on accurate, comprehensive and standardized digital product information enabling global verifiable product identity. This all boils down to more comprehensive and standardized digital product information across the supply chain. Additionally, it will assist the GS1 members in all retail subsectors in deploying traceability programs, meeting regulatory requirements, and achieving sustainability objectives.

Verified by GS1, the Global Data Model, and our keen support for a switch to 2D barcodes on a global scale are a few basic GS1 initiatives that are particularly significant to the retail industry. Together, these initiatives offer considerable value: Retailers and marketplaces can validate the product information and get a uniform set of product details from manufacturers to give to customers and store owners. At the register, customers can purchase a product and pay with a smooth “beep.”

 

At GS1 Kenya, one key success achievement we are proud of is the launch of Hakikisha bidhaa (National product catalogue) . An online member service platform that supports the access of product information, validation and storing. NPC has enabled members to upload and save their data on real-time and using verified by GS1 service that allow members to validate the authenticity of a product.

 

Better consumer transparency, increased operational efficiency, and a more sustainable and circular economy are all made possible by GS1 standards and services.

 

GS1 is working to enable ubiquitous, verifiable product identity with accurate, complete, harmonised digital product information. This is the foundation for an efficient, resilient and transparent supply chain. It will also help actors across any retail sub-sectors meet regulatory requirements, deploy traceability programmes and meet sustainability goals.

GS1’s focus continues to be on ensuring secure and effective business operations in the apparel and general merchandise sectors, thanks to GTIN’s ubiquity and integrity for unique and long-lasting identification of all traded goods. Apparel is one of the sectors that GS1 has considered for the implementation of the EU Digital product passport and has taken steps to enable industry ready for it . The EU Digital product passport initiative gives apparel sellers from Europe access to a product’s master data, traceability data, and “green” data attributes.

 

In the case of fresh foods, GS1 is still improving identification and digitalization as well as creating chances for those involved to gain from increased use of the GS1 Registries. Locally, we have SHAMBA ikoNET, a digital platform that links farmers to the market. SHAMBA ikoNET is an online platform supported by GS1 technology that directly link farmers to buyers globally. It helps a buyer to access fresh produce enabling a buyer to trace back the origin of the produce and access farm input information through unique identification of farms, farm produce, farm inputs and farmers ensuring visibility throughout the supply chain. In addition, it supports real-time payment of produce.

 

The Containerisation of Communication — Why Now is the Time for Standardisation

It wasn’t a complex idea — but the most transformational ones rarely are.

As those in the maritime industry know, before the adoption of the container, international shipping was a haphazard affair. Goods were transported in barrels, sacks, crates and cartons. It could take wharf workers weeks to load a ship, arranging the cargo on-board as best they could (and often helping themselves to some of the goods along the way).

In 1937, irritated with the inefficiencies of transporting goods, US truck owner, Malcom McClean, conceived of a new intermodal shipping container — a universally-sized box that could be used across trucks, trains and ships, all across the globe.



A couple of decades later his idea gained momentum, and in time became the industry standard, revolutionising shipping in the process. The time to load and unload ships plummeted from weeks to a matter of hours, and it became easier (and cheaper) than ever to move freight from land, to sea, and back to land again, to all corners of the globe.



This standardisation of the shipping container accelerated our industry, unlocked countless opportunities and enabled the boom of global trade.

Now, in 2019, we face a new challenge.

As we evolved, different carriers began using different communication formats, systems and protocols. In doing so, complexity increased and interoperability became more difficult. In a communication sense, we are back to stacking the ship with barrels, sacks, and cartons. It may work, but it’s inefficient. And in an increasingly digital, on-demand world, customer expectations are higher than ever.



To capitalise on the many opportunities ahead of us (IoT, big data, blockchain to name a few), we must first improve standardisation across the industry.



It’s time for a containerisation of data communications.

An Argument for Standardisation

It’s only natural for us to serve our customers; to solve their problems, and in doing so, hopefully gain a competitive edge.

But in doing so, we can create unintended friction.



Ports, freight-forwarders and customers rarely deal with one carrier exclusively. And competing formats can lead to friction and frustration as information doesn’t flow as smoothly as it could. In an industry with high degrees of interaction, standardisation is essential.

In the world of consumer technology, Bluetooth is one such example of successful standardisation. This common technology made it possible for users of all kinds of devices to connect to another, seamlessly and easily. In doing so, a new market for peripherals from all kinds of manufacturers emerged, bringing with it a smoother more connected experience for consumers.



Another such example can be seen in telecommunications. By standardising SIM cards and mobile networks across the globe, customers are now able to freely travel and switch devices without the friction and incompatibility of competing formats.



Such open ecosystems can feel counterintuitive to an individual business, but the opportunities of scale that it unlocks are far greater.

Differentiate Where it Makes a Difference



To be competitive, a business must differentiate. But we should differentiate where it will add true value to our customer.

Imagine the headaches if each carrier competed on the size and dimensions of their containers. In an industry so dependent on interaction with other parties, it makes sense for us to agree on standards that benefit all.



Airlines, for example, improved collaboration with codeshare arrangements. By implementing some standards they unlocked opportunities for all and freed up resource to focus on differentiating in the customer experience.

Competition and collaboration can co-exist, and benefit the customer.



It was precisely this sentiment that led to myself and CIOs from other major shipping carriers to announce plans for a new industry association last year. Our goal is to work together to find solutions to some of the industry’s biggest data communication challenges, for the benefit of customers and the industry as a whole.

The Road Ahead

It’s an exciting time for the industry. With five major carriers (A.P. Moller — Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC and Ocean Network Express) forming a strong foundation to create meaningful change through the creation of digital industry standards. And we will welcome interest and engagement from across the shipping sector. True change will only come when a critical mass within the industry are willing to implement changes that will benefit all.

Ultimately, the industry must collaborate to move forward. To achieve the containerisation of data communications.

Healthcare Traceability

TRACEABILITY FOR HEALTHCARE SUPPLY CHAINS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

In the recent past, the global health sector applied technology in health commodity supply chains.

Despite its widespread use in western-world, not many African countries have embraced it.

In developing countries, particularly African countries where the disease is prone, the health supply chain functions poorly in a high prevalence of substandard, stock-outs, and falsified medications.

The reason for the poor functionality of the health supply chain in LMICs is a result of their complexity in nature.

Unlike in developed countries where health supply chains are managed almost entirely by the private sector, in LMICs, public, private, and non-governmental organizations coexist as channels used to distribute medicine with various interconnected flows between the three channels. The African governments have varying health models, and Central Medical Store (CMS) operates alongside other donor-established vertical supply chains. These tend to overlap and cause a lot of complexities that generate inefficiencies and ineffective monitoring processes. These inefficiencies weaken the supply chains and lead to corruption, product diversion, and theft of medicines in cases where different hands handle it on the path between a CMS and a local health center.

Thus, these problems tend to escalate the stock-outs in developing countries and raise the use of substandard medicines entering the health system as wrongdoers try to cover their activities.

Thanks to the global health initiative that has taken to account these concerns. Efforts have intensified to improve health supply chain management in developing countries.

The global health community has worked to expand the operation of traceability in developing counties’ health systems by encouraging the use of GS1 standards by their suppliers and working with their governments to establish the foundation required for adopting serialization.

The work done so far is noticeable by USAID is taking the lead to work with governments such as Ethiopia, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, and Pakistan.

Advocacy efforts that have made a huge difference have transpired and trickled the interest of most developing country governments in traceability technologies. During the first African GS1 healthcare conference held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia May 2018, the idea was displayed and graced by representatives from 38 counties, 45 regulatory bodies, and 23 Humanitarian organizations.

After all that, one would ask whether these developing countries took any steps to implement traceability technology. 

Yes, indeed! Ethiopia’s Pharmaceuticals Fund and Supply Agency (PFSA)- a division of the Federal Ministry of health-with support from USAID, successfully piloted the GS1 barcode technology to enhance their health commodity supply chain.

Utilizing GTINs that include serialization gave PFSA the ability to track and trace the distribution of each medical product down to the individual package. This degree of traceability can assist in many critical ways, from implementing policies and recalls to reducing the counterfeiting of medical products.

Change & Technology

Change is the only constant

Yes, there is change, each and every human changes.

In physical, emotional, social aspects you evolve from the entity you lived till now.

I guess it’s the circumstances and situation you are trapped in, shows you what you are? And what you what you want to be?

When we see a more attractive or a physically appealing person. We develop the wish to be like him or her. Changing hairs styles, fashion sense or by makeup.

Someone said to me long back that it takes hell amount of effort for a person to change himself/herself. If he does that then it’s a sign of greatness. Changing oneself is easier said than done. Even if it may seem people do change over time, but in fact the changes are like the dew on the flowers and leaves. It blurs out their true self so as to protect the true self from revealing.

Things change, Situations change but hardly the people ever change. Even if People change, then it is not for the worse but for the better.

We need to accept people as they are, as they accept us as we are.

TECHNOLOGY AND CHANGE

The question is, the laws or other regulations need time to enact and improve.

The more technology we have, the faster it can connect or build on previous technology, so it’s only going to happen faster and faster. Our challenge is to keep our ethical values abreast of our technical knowledge.

Barcodes have made product deliveries more timely, attractive & reduced the product costs highly. GS1 standards

GS1 Kenya focuses on sectors such as healthcare, Fresh food, transport and logistic. As technology continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, GS1Kenya has been quick to adapt and leverage emerging trends to address the evolving needs of businesses. GS1 has actively embraced these technologies and developed innovative solutions to optimize processes, enhance data accuracy, and ensure end-to-end traceability.

However, technology and change are not without their complexities. As new technologies emerge, organizations must navigate potential implementation hurdles, data privacy concerns, and the need for cross-industry collaboration. GS1Kenya recognizes these challenges and continues to provide guidance, education, and best practices to help businesses successfully navigate the evolving technological landscape

As we stand at the forefront of an era characterized by unprecedented technological progress, it is crucial to embrace change and harness the power of technology responsibly. We must navigate the complex ethical and societal implications that arise alongside innovation. By fostering inclusivity, ensuring data privacy, and bridging the digital divide, we can strive for a future where the benefits of technology are accessible to all.

Technology and change are intrinsically intertwined, shaping the world we live in and molding the course of our future. It is our collective responsibility to embrace technological advancements, adapt to the evolving landscape, and utilize technology as a force for positive transformation.

Verified By GS1

Verified By GS1 makes everything distinct

Fifty years ago, a collective of business–minded leaders came together to revolutionize commerce. They
introduced the idea of barcodes currently foundon 100 million consumer goods and healthcare products and
scanned 6 billiontimes daily. GS1 was founded by industry, for the industry. With 116 memberorganizations
and 1.5 million user companies, GS1 has a global scope. As a trusted, neutral, not–for–profit organization,
Retailers, brands, technology firms, distributors, manufacturers, governments, industry associations, and
regulators are all brought together by GS1 as a dependable, objective, not– for–profit partner to address
common business challenges by collaborating tocreate open, universal standards for the greater good.
GS1 has issued a unique identification through the barcode for almost 50 years. GS1 GTIN (the barcode
number) and other supply chain standards haveultimately helped patients and consumers. Our standards
have enabledbusinesses to exchange information about products, locations, and supply chains and brought
down prices while improving productivity and enhancing patient and customer satisfaction.
In a world where data drives business, e–commerce websites offer millions ofproducts to consumers. GS1 has
developed a single source of high–quality product information known as Verified by GS1, a global solution that
helps theindustry build trust through the authentication of product identity. Verified byGS1 helps validate the
identity of a particular brand or product and answers the following questions:
• Is the GTIN valid; is it accurately structured?
• Is this GTIN licensed to a party known to GS1?
• To which company has the GTIN been licensed?
• Does the GTIN exist in the GS1 Registry Platform?
• Which attributes are available for the GTIN?
The answers to each question issue the data with confidence that a product registry to a given GTIN. Brand
owners register for a GTIN with a minimum set of basic product information. Brands create an “ID Card” for
a specific product that retailers and marketplaces use the information to verify the identity of a product and
gain faster, simplified access to brand–sourced, high–quality, and consistent product data.

 
 

To learn more about how Verified by GS1 is now assisting theindustry, click the links below:
Migros Turkey (Case Study) – Migros, a leading supermarket in Turkey, had issues with their brand owners
reusing their GTINs for a new product bringing confusion when listing the products on their database. With
verified by gs1, Migros was adequate to upgrade their data exchange with their brandowners resulting in
efficient verification of product data listed on theirsystems.
Johnson & Johnson (Case Study) had obsolete product information and poor data quality for their consumer
health items in their database. To address these discrepancies and increase the visibility of their product
information, Johnson and Johnson had to use verified by GS1 to streamline their processes.
Parla Deli, a full–service restaurant, and bakery in Brazil had challenges withinventory management and food
waste. After launching Verified by GS1, the order was simplified, resulting in fifty percent less food waste and
improving efficiency, traceability, and visibility. They have also managed to grow their engagement with
shoppers.
Using verified by GS1, China ( Case study) has seen an exponential increase in cross–border trade, both in
high volume and in the variety of products entering the country, speeding up border declarations, reducing
fake goods, reducing errors, and enhancing compliance.
“ Having a centralized, validated, and up–to–date list of all our prefixes acrossthe world provides us confidence
and saves us time.” —Marina Lopes Furtado,Johnson & Johnson Supply Chain Manager for Digital
Identification & Traceability.
Explore how Verified by GS1 is benefitting the industry worldwide (VBG success stories)