GS1 adds sample product checks to data quality scheme
Lynch said one benefit of a single, standardised source of product data, accessible by the whole food industry, would be the ability to update it swiftly and efficiently if labelling errors occurred.
Other regions that were further advanced along the route of global data synchronisation, such as the US and Canada, had gone down that route, he said. "It's not currently part of the service we are offering, but I know in countries that are advanced in this, that is logically the next step. It's on our radar."
He was speaking to Food Manufacture after launching TrueSource Data Quality, part of its TrueSource suite of services aimed at standardising grocery supply chain data.
The service has been set up in partnership with data capture and image specialist Brandbank and is available to all GS1 UK members. It involves manufacturers sending sample products to Brandbank, which takes a snapshot of them and records barcode details; height; width; and weight.
The information is verified by the brand owner, uploaded to the GS1 network and accessible by all GS1 UK members. Additional images are provided for online trading, websites or marketing purposes.
"We intend this to be a long-standing relationship that will develop a range of services that support our members in improving data quality and deliver tangible benefits in terms of efficiency and cost reduction," said Lynch. "TrueSource currently gives retailers access to trusted and authenticated data for around 35,000 products from more than 1,000 suppliers."
