GS1 UK launches Data Quality initiative

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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.