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Month: July 2021

Why Use DataKart for Product Catalogue Management?

Posted on by Nitesh Agrawal

Today’s marketplace is volatile. Whether it is a brick-mortar store or an e-commerce platform, keeping track of your products’ changes is a challenging task for brand owners. A product catalogue is a tool that can help you here. This is not a new concept. We have all been using it for ages. The menu card we see in restaurants or for take-aways, or the listing brochure that store owners handle you when you enter a furniture store or electronic stores, the list of shoes, are all forms of product catalogues. With booming e-commerce, product catalogue has gone much beyond the listing. Instead, it is used as a tool to sell products, gather analytics about consumer behaviour and at times becomes the differentiator between your online store and your competitors’.

According to Gartner, a product catalogue is a marketing tool that contains all the information about the commercial product. It enables product marketing managers to define and map new product offerings such as the configuration of new products and services bundles, pricing, discounts, etc.

The product catalogue includes details such as product features, dimensions, descriptions, weight, color, availability, customer reviews, price, etc., that helps buyers to make a purchase decision. Product catalogues are also used by field marketers/ sales representatives to communicate product features to the customers, by customers to make buying decisions, by managers to record and manage the product display, and by partners to share product information with the end-users.

Product catalogue management refers to the process that enables brand owners/manufacturers to provide quality product data across the online marketplaces, retail stores, and distribution network. In the e-commerce space, product catalogue management is the strategic process of organizing, storing, retrieving, standardizing, publishing/ distributing, and performance tracking through multiple sale channels for increased sales. Consider the following statistical figures where consumers are studied for their buying behavior for the quality of product catalogue. Results show that 78% of the consumers show positive buying behavior when fed with a personalized product catalogue that suits their demands.

As evident from above, a product catalogue plays an important role in today’s market for driving sales. Some added advantages of having a quality and streamlined product catalogue are:

  1. A product catalogue helps to record technical information and features of multiple products in a suitable format for multiple users and parties.
  2. It talks about your brand and helps establish a better connection with potential customers.
  3. It eliminates the need to manually add data during the business cycle. It helps to enhance user experience with the associated images, ratings and reviews, feature comparison charts, etc.
  4. A product catalogue is a great tool for effective communication between the seller and the consumers. The sales agent can shift their focus to improve the conversion rate rather than running from one end to other for collecting the relevant data on a timely basis.  

However, creating a quality product catalogue comes with many challenges. Managing product catalogue shifts your focus to a lot of unproductive tasks like sending reminder emails to multiple sale channels, poking stakeholders again and again for data updates, setting up new excel sheets an infinite number of times, etc.

In the complex e-commerce world, a dynamic product catalogue requires continuous changes, real-time synchronization to reflect on price, discounts, sales, availability, etc. While generating a master product catalogue, the potential of error increases multifold if you are dealing with thousands of SKUs. This not only affects user experience but also affects entire operations.

Hence it is advisable to use trusted third-party platforms such as DataKart to manage your product catalogue. Let us take the example of a Ketchup bottle that you buy from the online grocery store. Its product catalogue contains information such as GTIN (EAN / UPC), Brand Name, Product Category, Product Description, Net Weight, Gross Weight, FSSAI License Number, Food Type, Storage Condition, Shelf Life, MRP, MRP Location, HSN Code, IGST, CGST, SGST, Country of Origin, Product Images, Nutritional Information, Ingredient Information pack dimensions, pack variant information, etc. All this information does not come from a single source. For example, GTIN (barcode number) has to be issued by the packaging team to ensure uniqueness, net weight is recorded at the manufacturing center, while product nutritional value comes from the R&D department. All internal teams can be integrated on DataKart to populate the department-specific product information.

DataKart is a single source of reliable product data. It helps brand owners to assign and manage unique barcode numbers with global GS1 standards. Managing the product catalogues has many varied benefits for internal as well as external stakeholders. This includes faster product listing, optimized planogramming, ability to send recall alerts, product data change notifications, compliance with statutory labelling/marking guidelines, license/certificate validation, and the need for additional product information to enable consumers to make informed purchase decisions.

GS1 India’s DataKart acts as a one-stop solution for brand owners to manage their product catalogue conveniently. By availing DataKart’s product data exchange services, you can meet various product cataloguing and imaging needs for selling products online, in stores, or both. Product images and information used in the DataKart catalogue need to be compliant with e-commerce guidelines. To help achieve this, GS1 India also offers an e-Cataloguing Service and ClickIt mobile app.

Just like an ideal Product Catalogue Management platform, DataKart helps you develop trust with quality information. With this, you can directly share your product catalogue with consumers through the Smart Consumer app.

Current business scenarios have accustomed B2C and B2B customers to online shopping and thus the demand and preference for detailed product catalogues have increased. DataKart helps to deal with multiple channels efficiently without making your system complex and time-consuming. Even if your business is spread across multiple locations, DataKart enables you to scale the product catalogue and fosters business growth.

DataKart: A Holistic Approach Towards Your Product Information Management

Posted on by Nitesh Agrawal

Do you remember the time when data management could simply be done with the help of an Excel sheet? It was when data was available on a smaller scale and businesses decisions were not analytics oriented. However, emerging technologies such as IoT, Artificial Intelligence, Machine learning, Cloud computing, etc., have facilitated large data collection, and analytics for business management. With product information management systems becoming a necessity, their advantages are making organizations top the charts of profitability and innovation. In this article, we will discuss Product Information Management and how GS1 India’s DataKart provides a holistic approach to mastering data management and exchange. However, before going into that, let us define Product Information Management.

Product Information Management (PIM) is a centralized cloud-based solution for collecting, storing, and managing product information. It is a source from where you can access all your product information and share it among others seamlessly and securely. Product Information Repository is the cloud storage where all the data, including price pertaining to the region, master data of the product, and its HSN codes, are stored. DataKart is the national product data repository for storing and sharing product master data. It is governed by GS1 global standards. GS1 India’s DataKart allows companies to maintain an accurate, and single source of truth, which can be shared in real-time. Ecommerce websites, retailers, data aggregating companies are using DataKart for accessing authentic and trusted information on products effortlessly. DataKart helps them access trusted product information, which is directly populated by brand owners. It also enables brand owners to connect to consumers directly through the Smart Consumer app, and gather relevant their feedback, in the form of reviews and ratings, informs them about regulatory certifications and quality standards, etc. PIM has become a need for e-commerce websites for managing large product portfolios and thousands of SKUs.

Over years, GS1 India has gained the industry’s trust with its services. DataKart helps in sharing product data as per the required file formats of retailers and e-tailers, and hence, the same information can be shared in multiple formats, multiple times, in a couple of clicks.

All the product information in DataKart is linked with the product’s unique barcode numbers – GTINs.

These unique codes also enable brand owners to collect, link, store and update product information as it moves through the supply chain. DataKart platform meets your B2B, B2C, and B2G business requirements. It also enables efficient and targeted traceability through DataKart Trace. DataKart MDM exchange service enables expediting product listing process, optimizing planogramming by providing information on product dimensions, providing alerts for product information change, enabling validation of license/certificate, ensuring compliance with statutory labelling/marking guidelines, and helping consumers make an informed purchase decision.

DataKart is a B2B platform for storing, managing, and sharing your product information. With its value-added services such as product catalogue management, product imaging and measurement, data synchronization, authentication and traceability services, it provides a holistic approach towards your Product Information Management.    

Importance of Barcodes in e-Commerce Operations: Amazon’s Example

Posted on by Nitesh Agrawal

This blog gives an overview of the importance of barcodes in e-Commerce marketplace operations and supply chain processes.

Content

  • Introduction
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Supplier Relationship Management
    • Fulfilment by Amazon
    • Fulfilment by Merchant
  • Internal Supply Chain Management
  • Customer Relationship Management
  • Conclusion

Introduction

Amazon is a major e-commerce marketplace in India. Its operating revenue from e-commerce sales in India was Rs162 billion in March 2021. As per a report published by Inc42 in 2021, it has more than 850 thousand sellers selling 50 million+ products to 100 million+ users in India. This blog focusses on how barcodes help Amazon in its supply chain operations.

Supply Chain Management

As an e-commerce marketplace, Amazon has a very complex supply chain. It has to get the products from its vendors, manage warehouse operations, and supply to the customers when they order the product.

The entire supply chain management can be divided into three domains viz. Supplier Relationship Management, Internal Supply Chain Management, and Customer Relationship Management.

Supplier Relationship Management: 

Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) is an approach to systematically access the contribution of suppliers in the business. It helps to improve business processes by coordination and evaluation.

Barcodes make the order receiving process accurate, scalable, fast, and traceable, thereby helping Amazon Marketplace manage supplier relationships. 

There are two modes of listing products on Amazon, viz. — Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM).

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)

FBA is the business model that helps suppliers and business owners use Amazon’s vast logistics network spread across India to deliver products to customers.

Sellers list their products on Amazon and then ship them to Amazon fulfillment centers for further processing.

At the Amazon fulfillment center, the following inbound processes take place.

  1. Each product is received by the inbound team
  2. Each product has a unique barcode called Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN), which is linked with GTIN
  3. The ASIN is scanned and the product is stowed in mobile storage pods
  4. These storage pods are moved from one location to another using automated robots
  5. Details of the product, including quantity and which storage pod the product is stored in, is recorded in Amazon’s inventory system.

When a consumer orders a product the following outbound processes take place.

  1. The Amazon inventory system checks and locates the storage pod where the item is stored
  2. The storage pod is moved by robots to the pick station
  3. An associate picks the item and places it in a tray which is transported to packing station via conveyer belts
  4. The items are packed, and a barcode is placed on the package
  5. The package is sent via conveyer belt to a SLAM (Scan, Label, Apply and Manifest) station
  6. The system scans the barcode, and prints and applies the consumer address on the package.
  7. The package is then shipped to the consumer.

Fulfilment by Merchant (FBM)

In FBM, the merchant is responsible for handling and shipping products. While Amazon acts as a platform to sell the product, the seller directly ships them to the final customer.

Amazon encourages third-party sellers to use Global Trade Identification Numbers (GTIN) to uniquely identify the products when they want to list the products on Amazon. The GTIN is a globally unique identification number for a product, issued by GS1 organizations across the globe. The sellers can use GTIN (EAN Product Codes) to identify the products and manage the master data for all their products. They can use DataKart to easily share product attributes with Amazon for listing on the platform or pull the data in required format and share it externally.

Internal Supply Chain Management:

Internal supply chain management refers to the functions such as sales, distribution, inventory keeping, and warehouse management, etc.

Amazon uses ASIN to improve efficiency of its supply chain. This enables

  • Data entry in the inventory system
  • Reconciliation of physical and system inventory
  • Enabling automation in warehouses
    • Barcodes are scanned while storing and retrieving items
    • Barcode scans are used to move items on correct conveyer belts
    • Package barcodes are scanned for labelling of packages for shipment
  • Reduce processing time
  • Improved data accuracy

Customer Relationship Management:

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is used to manage a company’s relationships and interactions with current and future customers to improve business relations.

The consumers get a better shopping experience while browsing on e-commerce sites as they are able to easily view products which are similar to their previous searches and purchases. This improves consumer loyalty for the company and generates positive word of mouth which results in higher profitability.

The use of ASIN facilitates better consumer relationship management.

  • Marketplaces can tailor display of product categories, based on prior order/search history of user
  • A consumer can scan the product barcode (GTIN) on the product to directly order the item from the Amazon app
  • ASIN and barcodes can be used for hassle-free tracking of orders
  • ASIN can be used as product identifiers while interacting with consumer care team

Conclusion

Amazon has showcased how unique barcodes encoded with unique product identification facilitate world-class warehousing solutions, inventory management, product visibility, effortless product tracing, and efficient supply chain management. Other marketplaces are also adopting barcodes (GTINs) to improve their operations.

 

DISCLAIMER: The trade names, logos, trademarks, or similar Intellectual Properties (IPs) shown or depicted in the publication of this article/whitepaper/presentation/work / literary work, remain the properties of the respective owners/beneficiaries. The inclusion of such trade names, logos, trademarks, or IPs does not denote ownership or claim, or allocation of any rights to GS1 India. These references have been made entirely for informational purposes with a view to describe and provide illustrative references to the products and/or services offered by GS1 India. GS1 India respects the IP-related rights of each and every IP owner and is committed to complying with all relevant laws and regulations. Accordingly, the use of such trade names, logos, trademarks, or similar IPs, is being only done under the principles of ‘fair use’. Any concern or objection to the information and reference usage of any trade name, logo, trademark, or IP; can be raised with the legal department of GS1 India at legal@gs1india.org

Traceability: Backbone of an Efficient and Targeted Product Recall

Posted on by Nitesh Agrawal

Product recalls can be a nightmare for any company. With markets becoming extremely competitive, it can damage the brand image and customers may lose trust in your products. There could be questions about the product’s safety and, in extreme situations, recalls can even bring a company to bankruptcy.

Heard of the Maggi case? In 2015, Nestle was ordered by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India  to recall its certain batches after detecting the excess level of lead and MSG, declaring them hazardous. In absence of any targeted recall mechanism, Nestle India decided to destroy 37,000 tonnes of Maggi noodles worth Rs. 500 crore. For the next quarter, company’s net profit was down to 60% compared to the profit recorded in the same period the previous year.

Hence, a company’s ability to manage product recall, in case it happens, is a prime question for the leadership team. This article briefly talks about product recalls and how DataKart Trace, GS1 India’s traceability service, can assist in easing if not preventing recalls, especially for consumables and pharmaceutical products where product safety is a prime concern.    

A product recall calls for the removal of marketed products because of issues like design or production defects, non-compliance to safety standards, government regulations, or other quality issues. With respect to F&B and the pharmaceutical industry, product recalls usually happen when the consumable item is declared unsafe or it does not in compliance with the standards set by regulatory authorities. The objective of a recall is to halt the sales and distribution of the product in question and retrieve the concerned batches from the market for public safety.

A product recall can be a very tedious task as it involves huge paperwork and demands efficient end-to-end supply chain traceability. Without knowing where your products (concerning batches) are, actions cannot be taken further. This real-time knowledge on the location of batches/products is made available with DataKart Trace. It ensures keeping a record of all such details relating to the product, besides avoiding recall situations by continuous monitoring of quality and product safety.

DataKart Trace-based recall solution involves planning the entire course of action for recall. It addresses questions like which specific SKU to be recalled, the urgency of public health, recall scheduling, needs for public warning and communication, health hazard evaluation, the likelihood of future occurrence, recall status report, etc.

Product recall is a highly cost-effective process and distracts the business from its normal routine. The efforts required are tremendous to pull the product from the market and regain consumer trust. Hence having an efficient traceable system can never go wrong. DataKart Trace helps to define your recall management framework irrespective of your organization type. It gives senior leaders power to manage product recall ethically, efficiently, and effectively by adopting global standards for seamless data flow among the supply chain partners, and a single storage solution for all the parties. DataKart Trace recall solution is based on GS1 traceability standards (EPCIS) is a response to stringent regulations on product recalls for sustainable trading practices.

Blockchain Offers Next-Generation Traceability Solutions for Supply Chain Management

Posted on by Nitesh Agrawal

Blockchain is the new buzzword. In the past few years, blockchain technology has revolutionised several industries having wide applications in different fields with supply chain management being one of them. Before going into the details of how blockchain-based traceability is revolutionizing the supply chain, let us understand what blockchain is and how it works.

Blockchain is an encrypted ledger of digital data that is continuously authenticated with every new change by linking transactions in the form of a chain. The entire process is automated and hence transparency and efficiency are ensured for various parties involved including – dealers, distributors, suppliers, and third parties. The information or data is stored digitally in blocks, spread over thousands or millions of computers through an integrated network having algorithms to authorise/ check the authenticity of transactions.

With each scan, a new block gets added to the chain, automatically updating the information in the distributed ledger network spread across multiple stakeholders. Hence, you don’t have to manually add information, worry about manipulation or falsified information, plan against the bullwhip effect, or stand in the queue for information updates from other parties.

How Blockchain Traceability Impacts Supply Chain Management?

With this clarity on how blockchain works, let us see what it has to offer in supply chain management (SCM). The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) defines SCM as planning and management of sourcing, procurement, conversion/production, and management of logistics activities. It includes collaboration and coordination with multiple parties such as suppliers, distributors, stockists, other intermediaries, third-party service providers, and customers. With supply chain management becoming more complex due to globalization, competitiveness, increased number of SKUs, quality standards, etc., blockchain-based supply chain traceability is gaining traction.

With the help of GS1 standards and GS1 India’s traceability solution, DataKart Trace, you can determine information about the product in the supply chain, such as its location, source, destination, manufacturing details, expiry date or shelf life, etc. GS1 is a trusted and authorized body founded by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, along with apex trade bodies, to help Indian manufacturers adopt global barcoding standards.

Why is Supply Chain Traceability important?

Having visibility helps make the supply chain system flexible and agile. It helps reduce time and effort by removing activities like manual recording, inaccurate pickups, inaccurate deliveries, etc., thus making the entire process much more accurate and faster. GS1 India’s DataKart Trace enables continuous monitoring of a product as it moves from one node of the supply chain to another, and thus, helps in making tactical, strategic, and real-time operational decisions.

In 2013, as per the Deloitte Global Supply Chain Risk survey, companies highlighted issues of low visibility with respect to their extended supply chains. Without traceability, one can encounter numerous challenges, such as difficulty in gathering product information, lack of product history, difficulty in complying with Regulatory norms, unstandardised information, etc. GS1 traceability standards when used along with blockchain technology help you record transactions faster and enable instant authentication.

Traceability using blockchain alone does not ensure a foolproof solution to SCM problems. For example, if the data ingested is inaccurately fed by the user, then the results will be of no use. GS1 standards can enable automatic data capture using AIDC technology hence, making the data capture accurate. They allow users to ingest incorrect information through a simple scan. Barcodes capture unique identification of products/consignments and link the same with relevant data, such as location, temperature, etc., for effortless sharing.

The Benefits of Supply Chain Traceability

Supply chain traceability offers numerous advantages, helping businesses enhance efficiency, mitigate risks, and improve transparency. Here are the key benefits:

  • Supply Chain Visibility – With increased traceability, there is greater visibility in the journey of the products. Supply chain stakeholders can accurately identify, manage and track products throughout the process. 
  • Enhanced Risk Management – It helps identify and assess risks such as fraud, counterfeit products, or supply chain disruptions. It also allows for better forecasting and planning by analyzing data on inventory, shipments, and demand.
  • Sustainability Best Practices – Traceability supports sustainability by enabling companies to verify and communicate the sourcing of materials and adherence to ethical practices (e.g., fair labour conditions, and environmentally friendly processes). 
  • Collaboration and Strengthened Relationships – Traceability encourages closer cooperation among supply chain partners by providing a shared view of the product journey. This can help streamline operations, improve communication, and strengthen partnerships.
  • Increased Customer Trust – Consumers are increasingly concerned about the products they purchase. Having a traceable supply chain allows companies to demonstrate their commitment to quality, ethics, and transparency, fostering trust and loyalty.

How does Blockchain achieve product traceability?

Blockchain provides a distributed ledger that catalogues transactions in an immutable, time-ordered manner whereas GS1 standards record and share the accurate data in a structured format, enabling interoperability between systems. GS1 standards for identification and structured data enable blockchain users to have scalability and integrity in their supply chain. GTINs, coded into barcodes, also enable the linking of additional product information in shared/ individual systems, which can be stored securely and shared anytime.

The foundation of blockchain-enabled supply chains governed by GS1 standards promises success in the product journey from supplier to customer.  Recently, UNDP Accelerator Lab India, along with GS1 India and Spices Board have joined hands to develop a Blockchain-based Traceability, Quality Assurance, and Trading System for Indian Spices. This will enhance the eSpice Bazaar platform by ensuring food safety and improved quality. The project is supported by the Cabinet Office of Japan under the Japan SDGs Innovation Challenge 2020.

During the pilot, farms and crops are being identified uniquely using GS1 identification and capture standards. The project is aimed at providing visibility to farmers in the spices value chain and their direct access to potential buyers, which will enhance their bargaining power and profits.

In another project, GS1 India has worked with NITI Aayog, the apex policy think-tank and change catalyst of the Government, on its pilot project that is aimed at ensuring the authenticity of pharmaceuticals using blockchain technology.  The technology is used with unique identification standards of GS1.

The scope of the project enabled track and trace beyond traditional methods by allowing users to verify whether prescribed conditions for the transportation of drugs were maintained throughout the journey or not (through IoT sensors), and status was made available to stakeholders through a mobile application.

The project report titled: ‘Blockchain: The India Strategy –Towards Enabling Ease of Business, Ease of Living and Ease of Governance’ analyses the value of blockchain in facilitating trust in government and private sector interactions, followed by considerations for evaluating the blockchain use case for implementation. It also highlights possible challenges and lessons from NITI Aayog’s experiences in blockchain implementation and showcases potential use cases that the ecosystem may consider.

Conclusion

Blockchain has untapped potential which needs to be harnessed, specifically in achieving supply chain transparency. With its ability to encode and make data sharing secure, blockchain can revolutionise end-to-end traceability across industries like healthcare, FMCG, transportation etc. From ensuring ethical sourcing and selling practices to safeguarding interests of consumers, blockchain will play a critical role.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is supply chain traceability?

Supply chain traceability refers to having complete visibility across the product’s supply chain journey.

2. How does blockchain help in supply chain management?

Blockchain can be leveraged to achieve supply chain traceability, transparency and ensuring data integrity & authenticity. 

3. How do you improve traceability?

Traceability can be improved by integrating an advanced solution or service like GS1 India’s DataKart Trace service which ensures end-to-end visibility across the supply chain of the product. 

4. What is the future of blockchain in the supply chain?

In future, blockchain-based traceability is expected to gain momentum with businesses slowly moving forward to embracing a more robust and technological shift in their processes. Blockchain traceability will bring the required data security and authenticity in the operations. 

5. What is the purpose of traceability?

The purpose of having traceability in operations is to ensure every product or element can be accurately identified, tracked, traced and recalled if needed, during its supply chain journey. It gives sellers the advantage of having complete visibility across their processes. 

6. What is an example of traceability?

Indian Army Food Traceability (IAFT) is one example of traceability. To provide quality and healthy food to the army in remote areas, the Indian Army does unit-level traceability of all the rations items supplied to the army.

How to Generate GTIN Barcodes: A Quick Guide

Posted on by Nitesh Agrawal

Quick Guide to Generate GTIN Barcodes

E-commerce websites, like Amazon, Big Basket and others require sellers to enter product IDs/GTINs to get listed on their shopping portal. GS1 India allocates GTINs, which can be generated through DataKart (MDM system that enables the online generation and management of GTINs).

This blog is a quick guide which will help companies and brand owners generate GTINs or GS1 barcode numbers for their products.

Contents:

  • Register with GS1 India
  • Login to DataKart
  • Get GTIN allocation
  • Download Barcodes for printing

Steps to Generate GTIN

The steps to generate GTIN are given below.

Register with GS1 India

In case you want to sell your products or services through an online platform then you can issue a request to GS1 India for allocation of GTIN. In fact, once you are registered with GS1 India or any other authorized GS1 organization, you can create any of the GS1 ID keys using your subscription number.

GS1 India is the only authorized body in India to allocate these barcode numbers. If you are not registered yet, the first step is registering with GS1 India.

For registration, fill out an online form by visiting GS1 India website.

barcode registration form

While filling out the form, it is important to carefully select the ‘number of product barcodes’ based on your both current and future requirements for barcode numbers. This is because when any change occurs to your product (in net content, ingredients, pack size, etc.) or a new one gets introduced (promotional variants/new products), you would be required to change the barcode number on the same.

This must be taken into account while deciding for the barcode number capacity since it’s not possible to upgrade the selected capacity after registration. In such cases, you would need to apply a fresh registration by paying the applicable registration and annual fee at that time

The GTINs are available in batches of 100, 1000, 10,000 and 100,000.

After filling in the required details and attaching the required company documents, pay the required fees using payment options. Once this process is completed, you will receive your barcode subscription allotment letter in 4-7 working days.

Login to DataKart

Use the credentials given in your GTIN allocation letter to log in to DataKart portal.

Datakart login

  • After logging in to DataKart, click on the ‘Create Product Data’ icon on your DataKart home.

create product data

  • The ‘Create Product Data’ screen will appear, with GTIN as a prefilled value and different product attributes as blank fields. You may take a note of this GTIN.

product data creation

Get GTIN

To assign a GTIN number allocated to your product, add the product attributes and hit ‘Save & Publish’ towards the end.

In DataKart, you may either add data of a product individually or in bulk. If you have a large number of products you can download an Excel template, put the details in the template, and upload the same.

Once done, GTIN numbers get allocated to your products.

For help, visit the ‘Knowledge Centre’ under ‘Resources’, or seek support by visiting the ‘Support’ link under ‘Resources’.

support related resources

In case, you get stuck at readily available product images, download GS1 India’s ClickIt mobile app from Google PlayStore to capture e-commerce-ready product images from your mobile phone.

Download barcode images for packaging artwork

From DataKart home, click on ‘Generate and Print Barcodes’ and go to the ‘SKU’ option. Select the Product Name and Output File Type, and click ‘Generate’.

generate and print barcodes

DataKart also enables you to print barcodes for your cartons and pallets, logistic labels, etc.

Why Buy GTINs from GS1 India?

Posted on by Nitesh Agrawal

With the increasing business and supply chain complexities, it is becoming essential to get barcode numbers for unique identification and better visibility of products. In barcodes, this unique code is encrypted and can be scanned electronically using laser or camera-based scanners. Organizations use product barcodes to attain multiple objectives such as maximized cost efficiency and minimized response time. In supply chain management, it is referred to as the responsiveness-efficiency frontier, where organizations struggle to provide low-cost solutions with the minimum delivery time to their customers.  Barcodes make the supply chain faster and help lower the overall supply chain cost, which otherwise is difficult to manage in global and competitive scenarios.

Barcode numbers can be generated from many online websites free of cost, but they can create several issues, such as duplicate codes for multiple products, multiple codes for a single product, and more importantly, they cannot be read and understood by all trading partners. Such codes are not unique, making back-tracing much more difficult. Moreover, these locally generated barcodes cannot be validated universally. Hence, it is essential to buy barcodes from a licensed body such as GS1 India. GS1 India enables product data entry of only authorized GTINs to the national repository, DataKart. Further, using GS1 barcode numbers can also lead to higher product visibility to brand owners/ manufacturers through search engines by using GTINs (GS1 barcode numbers) in the coding of product pages.  

A large percentage of products in the market are without GTINs. However, listing the products without GTINs can invite many issues as most of the e-commerce websites and retailers need a unique product code, which can be authenticated. This helps them list products uniquely and manage their internal processes such as ordering, invoicing, despatch, receipts, etc.  Hence, e-commerce platforms, such as Amazon, Flipkart, BigBasket, etc., require brand owners to share GTINs to list their products on websites. 

GS1 India is the only authorized body and a standards organisation in India issuing GS1 barcode numbers.  GS1 issues and manages unique product code (UPC)/ Global Trade Identification Number (GTIN) for all trade items worldwide. GTIN can be linked to information such as product specifications, serial and product number, manufacturing details, source of origin, order status, destination details, etc. Thus, barcodes ensure unique identification for products and facilitate easy tracking at any point of the supply chain. They also enable product validation by retailers and e-tailers. For example, Amazon India uses GS1 India’s GTIN validation service for listing products on its site.

DataKart is the national product information repository, hosting information on over 14 million products. It stores all product-related information that can be assessed at any time by brand owners, retailers and online marketplaces. DataKart helps its users meet several requirements such as expediting the product listing process, generating product and carton barcodes, sharing product changes with retailers/e-tailers, etc., that are crucial in the B2B, B2G, B2C space. It also helps brand owners gain global reach by sharing information in the global product data repository. DataKart allows easy knowledge management by allowing API integration with various retail software and provides implementation and operational support.

With DataKart, manufacturers can also directly connect with their consumers through the Smart Consumer mobile app which enables them to share detailed product information to its consumers by scanning the GS1 barcode numbers (GTINs) on product packaging.

Set up by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, along with other apex trade bodies, GS1 India is a standards organization that provides a B2B platform for the industry to connect together. With their GTINs issuance and traceability services, GS1 India will help you adopt global standards in your supply chain to enhance efficiency and profitability.

DataKart – A Cloud Computing-Based Product Data Repository

Posted on by Nitesh Agrawal

Introduction to DataKart

DataKart is the National Product Data Repository for storing and managing product data at one place. It was launched in the year 2011 to streamline product data management and accelerate business operations by making product data sharing simpler. Since manufacturers themselves upload product information on the DataKart platform it reduces the flow of incorrect information in the market. It contains comprehensive details on products such as manufacturing details, expiry date, usage instructions, storage conditions, nutritional information, product unique identification number, etc. 

DataKart shares information with Verified by GS1 portal, GS1 Global Registry and the Smart Consumer app. This ensures information is consistent across all platforms and is available to all in a structured and standardised manner. Since DataKart stores data on products at one place it is called a product data repository, it also gets synced with local product storage systems. 

What is a Product Data Repository?

Repository refers to a storehouse of a specific set of product, information, formats etc. A product data repository is a storehouse of comprehensive product details related to a variety of products, manufactured by different businesses. It facilitates sharing critical information on products with stakeholders throughout the product’s lifecycle and fosters transparency in the supply chain. This repository allows businesses to manage and store data on products at a centralised location, improving data quality, eliminating information duplicates, and promoting detailed information accessibility. 

When data is stored in a centralised location, this makes it easy for businesses to access and control it. Additionally, when all local systems are integrated with a single data management platform, it helps mitigate counterfeits. 

Key Features of DataKart

DataKart not only facilitates early detection and prevention of counterfeits but also has numerous other features and benefits for businesses. Some of them are mentioned below –

  • Barcode Generation – Through DataKart, businesses can easily generate and download barcodes for their products. They need to generate GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) and download it in a barcode format of their choice. This barcode can then be printed and applied on retail products. 
  • Product Data Management – With DataKart, businesses can easily manage and share product data at one place. They can upload product data, customise product data fields, add new products and delete irrelevant data. 
  • Timely Implementation Support – Businesses get timely implementation support whenever needed. They also have the opportunity to connect with live agents and can raise queries on live chatbots to troubleshoot instantaneously. 
  • Smart Consumer app – DataKart shares information with Smart Consumer app. The application is developed for the consumers to access complete, detailed and accurate information on products at one place. Smart Consumer app sources all the information that is uploaded by manufacturers on DataKart, empowering consumers in their journey to smart buying.
  • Promotion through GS1 Digital Link – With DataKart, businesses can create 2D barcodes and insert URLs to their website or product landing page by encoding GS1 digital link. This URL can further promote availability of detailed product information, video links and more. 
  • Regulatory Compliance – DataKart is the only platform that is developed by GS1 India to streamline product data management and promote correct information flow. The platform is developed on GS1 standards and empowers businesses in meeting regulatory requirements.

Benefits of Using a Cloud-Based Product Data Repository

Cloud computing is a set of services that includes portfolio management, data storage, information sharing, database creation, multiple-party networking, and analytics. Cloud services are used worldwide for data storage and recovery, big data analytics, and drawing marketing and sales insights. A Cloud-Based Product Data Repository offers several key benefits:

  • Centralized Access: You have the ability to store all your product data in one secure, cloud-based location, making it easily accessible from anywhere. This enables seamless collaboration.
  • Scalability: As your product catalog expands, a cloud-based product data repository can scale effortlessly to handle growing data volumes, eliminating the need for costly hardware upgrades.
  • Real-Time Updates:  You can ensure that any updates made to product information are instantly reflected across all users and devices, keeping your teams aligned with the latest data and improving decision-making.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: By using a cloud-based infrastructure for product repository, you avoid the high costs of maintaining on-premise storage. 
  • Security: Robust cloud security measures, including encryption, and regular backups, to ensure your product data remains secure and protected from unauthorized access.
  • Integration: Cloud-based repositories can integrate seamlessly with other tools like eCommerce platforms, inventory management, and ERP systems, optimizing workflows and boosting efficiency.

Overall, a Cloud-Based Product Data Repository enhances operational efficiency, reduces costs, and improves data accuracy and accessibility for businesses managing complex product catalogs.

How DataKart Utilizes Cloud Computing

DataKart uses cloud computing, which involves online storage and retrieval of product information. 

  • DataKart offers numerous opportunities for improving business operations. It enables brand owners to share SKU data with retailers/e-tailers in a consistent and structured manner. GS1 India’s traceability service also uses DataKart for real-time tracking of products in the supply chain. 
  • It empowers consumer apps like Smart Consumer and provides access to product data, the ability to authenticate, share with marketplaces. DataKart overcomes the challenges of traditional data sharing where the probability of missing out on information is much higher.
  • DataKart repository acts as a single source of information for brand owners, retailers/online marketplaces, solution providers, and consumer apps. Unlike traditional information sharing, DataKart offers automated sharing of information, leading to better accuracy and real-time delivery.
  • DataKart issues and manages barcode numbers for trade items and manages data on the repository. These codes provide a unique identity to products and enable manufacturers to trace them across the supply chain. DataKart stores product details – product ID, size, color, shelf life, etc., and facilitates third-party integration.
  • It is a trusted database, populated directly by brand owners. DataKart eliminates multiple needs of compiling and sharing the data. DataKart automates the entire process of information sharing, saving a lot of time.

Implementing DataKart in Your Organization

DataKart is absolutely free and you can harness DataKart’s potential once you get registered with GS1 India for barcodes. Upon registering you will be allotted the Global Company Prefix (GCP) that can be used to login to your DataKart account and start generating GTINs (Global Trade Item Numbers). Here is a step-by-step process of registering with GS1 India for barcodes – 

Step 1: Visit GS1 India’s ‘Register for Barcode’ page or you can follow this link – https://www.gs1india.org/content/register-for-barcodes/

Step 2: Go to the Registration Form and click on the Register Now button. 

Step 3: Complete the form by providing all your details, submit your company documents as and where asked and pay the one-time registration fees. 

Step 4: Submit the form. You will receive a call from the GS1 India registration team to confirm your registration for GS1 barcodes and after 7-10 working days you will be provided your GCP and barcode allotment letter. 

Conclusion

A product data repository is absolutely necessary for businesses of any scale. DataKart is based on the global supply chain standards and helps businesses in complying with the regulatory standards and global unique identification structure. With businesses fast-moving towards embracing technological breakthroughs, it is essential they leverage this cloud-based product data management platform to harness its benefits and achieve process efficiency. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How to get a barcode?

You can get registered for barcodes by completing the barcode registration process with GS1 India. 

2. How to generate barcodes in DataKart?

You can generate GTINs for your products on the DataKart platform. Based on your requirements you can select the type of barcode you want to download for your products. 

3. What is a product repository?

Product repository refers to a storage of comprehensive details on products being sold in the market. 

4. Can I generate my own barcode?

Yes, by registering for GS1 barcodes you will be provided your GCP (Global Company Prefix) for DataKart login. You can generate GTIN and then barcodes through the DataKart platform.

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