As part of EAN International, a global not-for-profit, industry led organization, e.centre develops, promotes and deploys global standards for the identification of goods and locations and related e-business communications. This is collectively known as the EAN.UCC System.
The supply chain for retail and consumer products is already complex. Matching the delivery of products from manufacturer to retailer to meet consumer demand is a major challenge. Yet the erroneous data contained in both manufacturers’ and retailers’ systems, such as obsolete items, incorrect price information and inaccurate product definitions, only makes it worse.
These errors have an adverse effect on the revenue potential of both manufacturers and retailers, as well as resulting in problems that directly affect the consumer, such as goods out-of-stock or insufficient shelf space for over-sized items. By standardizing, matching and synchronizing this critical data, national and global supply chains can operate more efficiently and profitably.
e.centre chief executive Steve Coussins is confident the UK data pool will increase the competitiveness of British manufacturers and retailers in the UK & global marketplace.
This one-stop solution will be as advantageous to the small company as it is for the big multi national. The data pool will cut out repetitive manual tasks that often result in errors and will combat the ever-present problem of data mismatches, stripping out inefficiency and cost, explained Mr Coussins.
Part of the global data synchronization (GDS) initiative, the UK data pool will be linked to other national data pools through an industry-operated Global Registry. Dubbed the Global Yellow Pages, the Global Registry will facilitate a seamless, interoperable exchange of standardized data between trading partners around the world. British based manufacturers will be able to upload their product and company information once, which is then captured and distributed automatically to their retailer customers all over the world.
Currently, manufacturers have to provide multiple versions of the same information about their product lines. It is not uncommon for a supplier to have to fill in 50 forms, which is a complete waste of our time and adds unnecessary complication to trading processes. The ideal is to get down to one form and that is exactly the direction e.centre and its data pool will be taking its members. said Walter Satterthwaite, supply chain consultant for Masterfoods.
e.centre’s data pool is being developed and operated by global supply chain experts Global eXchange Services (GXS) and has received industry-wide backing. Companies such as Sainsbury’s and 3663 strongly support the project.
e.centre’s offering will be integrated with UDEX, the existing ‘K data pool provider. UDEX’s existing trading partners and their suppliers will continue to receive the benefits of quality assured data and will see no interruption in service. They will, however, benefit from being able to share standards-compliant data to a wider community. UDEX will continue to offer its Quality Assurance and New and Changed Line Manager services to the UK industry.
e.centre’s Supervisory Board recently gave the go ahead for the project and the UK data pool is expected to be launched towards the end of 2004.
