Tesco and Ocado have become the first retailers to sign commercial contracts for using productDNA. GS1’s global scheme to get retailers using a common language to describe products. The two are now actively approaching their supplier base to start implementing the service into their businesses.
Both Tesco and Ocado have been part of the leading group of retailers and brands announced in 2017 committed to an industry charter for a common approach to product data management.
“Retailers and suppliers spend too much time on chasing, checking and rekeying product data. productDNA delivers a single product data catalogue that we will all own and trust. It will mean we can focus on what’s really important to our businesses, delivering innovation and improving the customer experience.”
– Mark Watson, Director of Planning & Supply Chain at Ocado
Whilst the initial launch of productDNA focuses on the specific industry needs to streamline and improve the ‘new lines’ process, the service will continue to evolve to address the wider industry demands for a better quality, cost effective product data solution for the entire grocery market.
“When adopted universally across the industry, productDNA will give retailers increased confidence in the product data they receive, as well as helping to reduce the amount of inaccurate data and increasing the efficiency of our product data processing.”
– George Wright, Commercial Director, Fresh Food at Tesco
productDNA is the result of the retail industry getting together to agree a common language for products, being created ‘for the industry, by the industry.’ Key benefits of the new productDNA service for the UK grocery industry include:
• A common data model for all retailers using a set of agreed product attributes
• A simpler, faster product catalogue shared between suppliers and retailers
• Third party verification to improve the quality of product data
“Shoppers and governments are placing greater demands on the retail industry to provide clear and accurate data on the products that they are buying – be it in terms of sustainable sourcing of ingredients, fit with dietary needs or simply correct images and descriptions of items. As a neutral, not-for-profit organisation, GS1 UK’s purpose is to help industry solve complex challenges such as these, and we’re delighted that both Tesco and Ocado have committed to implement productDNA as a step towards providing more accurate and consistent information about the products that they sell. We will continue to work with our cross-industry advisory group to develop productDNA to meet the demands of an ever-changing market.”
– Gary Lynch, CEO, GS1 UK
