By S Swaminathan, COO, GS1 India
The unprecedented changes in the wake of Covid-19 are compelling MSMEs and SMEs to rethink their business models and customer requirements.
This is majorly because the customer attitude towards shopping and their expectations from brand owners as well as from retailers/e-tailers have changed. With trends like shopping online and contactless delivery gaining acceptance among consumers, it is essential for small manufacturers and brand owners to be available at all the online retailing platforms.
Additionally, this is also an opportune time for SMEs / start-ups to not only manufacture local products but also get them recognized in the marketplace and help the economy get back into shapewhile reducing dependence on imported products. To enter into the e-retailing space and assure consumers your products are made locally, they need to uniquely identify their products by labelling them with a unique product code, i.e. India barcode numbers, starting with ‘890’.
Not only 890 barcode numbers assures consumers that brand owners/manufacture are based in India and subscribed barcode numbers for their products from GS1 India but also help manufacturers in selling them through multiple retail chains and online marketplaces, using same product code. This is because 890 barcode numbers identify your products globally in an unambiguous way, ensuring that no other product across the world will have this number. These numbers are developed and maintained by a global supply chain standards organisation – GS1.
Also, 890 barcode numbers enable brand owners to reach directly to consumers using Smart Consumer mobile app, powered by national repository of data on retail products – DataKart.
The app enables brand owners/manufacturers to share the complete product details, in digital format, with consumers to help them make informed purchase decision. Additionally, the app help consumers share feedback on products, directly with the brand owners.
Further, continued volatility and uncertainty of economic environment has built complexities in the supply chains across the globe, leading to an increased demand for supply chain visibility and widespread adoption of global standards and best practices to improve collaboration and coordination.
The use of 890 barcode numbers facilitates supply chain visibility, counterfeit detection and product authentication by enabling easy track & trace, besides product recall and real-time stocks monitoring.
Here, it is important to note that GS1 India is the only authorised body to issue GS1 barcode numbers starting with 890. GS1 India is a supply chain standards body, set up in India by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry along with apex trade bodies and institutions, to help Indian Industry enhance efficiency and profitability in their supply chains.
Corporate Comm India (CCI Newswire)
