GS1 UK launches Data Quality initiative

Sainsburys and Britvic co-chair industry forum to standardise product information

GS1 UK, the independent supply chain standards and solutions organisation, has launched an industry initiative to develop practical solutions for the UK retail supply chain to improve data quality and to build a roadmap to standard data sharing.  Data quality was identified by ECR UK as an important business issue and GS1 UK will provide a forum for retailers, suppliers and food service operators, to collectively develop a standard approach to sharing common product information. It also aims to develop a roadmap for implementing Global Data Synchronisation (GDS). Leading GS1 UK members including J Sainsburys, Britvic, CO-OP, Morrisons, Unilever, Nestle, Cadburys, Boots, Mitchells and Butlers and Makro have joined the initiative.

Members of the initiative will begin by developing a strategy to consolidate and standardise core information on demand side new line forms in the grocery and foodservice sectors.   The group has also set a target for at least two retailers to have adopted the strategy framework by the end of 2008.

"The GS1 UK Data Quality initiative has a significant role to play within our current programme of improving the ease with which we can collaborate with our supplier base. Timely and accurate data is fundamental to improving the process of successful business-to-business collaboration," says John Hall, B2B Manager at Sainsbury's and co-chair of the Data Quality initiative.

As a supplier we are looking to consolidate both formats and standards for product information as sharing information any number of ways is time consuming and detrimental to data quality, says Nick Richmond, Activity Portfolio Manager, Britvic and co-chair of the Data Quality initiative.  A consistent approach to sharing data promotes brand integrity and our consumers peace of mind alongside efficiency in the supply chain.

Good quality data reduces cost, improves productivity and accelerates speed to market. It is also the foundation for collaborative commerce and global data synchronisation, says Gary Lynch, chief executive of GS1 UK. We are delighted that so many leading industry figures have recognised this by signing up to the GS1 UK initiative. We look forward to working with them to develop practical and realistic steps towards a coherent data quality strategy.

About GS1 UK

GS1 UK has driven innovation in the supply chain for over thirty years. It is part of the global GS1 organisation, dedicated to the development and implementation of global data standards and solutions for the supply chain.  GS1 standards are the most widely used in the world.  GS1 UK helps industry to implement these data standards through the use of bar codes, RFID, Global Data Synchronisation (GDS) and electronic business messaging.

About ECR UK

ECR UK (Efficient Consumer Response) is an initiative led by the directors of leading retailers and manufacturers and managed by IGD, focused on driving collaboration between retailers and suppliers for the ultimate benefit of consumers. Over the past 10 years it has provided a framework for a variety of projects with a key benefit being the use of a common language between retailers and manufacturers.

The ECR UK Executive board is co-chaired by Diane Carter from Sainsburys and Chris Tyas from Nestl and Sustainable Distribution and On Shelf Availability are the two key projects for the ECR UK initiative.