Trading partners around the world struggle with problems that generate excessive costs. In most cases, the cause is incorrect data used in business transactions, which leads to erroneous invoices and, consequently, additional manual effort required to make corrections. Reliable and up-to-date product data is highly desirable. Correct, consistent, and reliable information provides a solid foundation upon which electronic collaboration is built, enabling better control of supply chain processes and, thus, cost reduction.
The Global Data Synchronization Network as a key to electronic collaboration
According to research conducted by AT Kearney, companies lose approximately 3.5% of their profits annually due to inefficient supply chain process execution. The Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) is the answer to companies’ needs related to increasing the efficiency of commercial product data exchange and reducing unnecessary costs. GDSN provides an automated, global standards-based environment that enables secure and continuous data synchronization. As a result, all trading partners have consistent, high-quality product data in their systems at the same time. By using GDSN, companies standardize their product information, which in turn facilitates efficient data exchange, regardless of where they operate. Manufacturers only need to place their product data in one of the certified catalogs, and recipients—for example, retail chains—use the catalog interface to download information about their suppliers’ products. Such a solution not only increases the efficiency and quality of master data but, by eliminating errors, reduces the workload required to manage it and thus lowers the company’s operating costs. Worldwide, the largest corporations have already trusted the GDSN network, joining the global exchange of standardized product master data due to the fundamental role that accurate information plays in the process of building electronic collaboration.
Components of GDSN
Global Registry.
The heart of the network containing key information about all products from certified catalogs. The registry contains basic data based on global GS1 standards: GLN (Global Location Number), GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), GPC (Global Product Classification), as well as information about the target and source market for each product. To communicate with all certified catalogs, the registry uses standard GDSN messages in XML format.
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 3/2008.