Counterfeiters are getting smarter today. What worked a few years ago has become obsolete today as technology evolves and counterfeiters go along with it. However, the revenue loss and customer safety it puts in threat are ever-increasing, with no end in sight. However, there is a solution that has become an effective deterrent in prioritising customer interest: GS1 Standards and Acviss. The powerful duo to combat counterfeiting and ensure product authenticity and traceability is GS1 Standards and Acviss.
Let's delve deeper into how these two approaches empower brands and manufacturers.
GS1 Standards: The Global Language of Business
GS1 is a non-profit organisation that establishes and maintains a set of globally recognised standards for business communication. Often associated with barcodes, GS1 offers a much broader range of solutions. GS1 Standards provide a comprehensive framework for product identification and data sharing across the supply chain. They are used in 150 countries by over 2 million companies across 25 industries.
Here's how GS1 empowers Indian manufacturers:
- Unique Identification: GS1 assigns unique Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) to products, enabling them to be tracked and identified throughout the supply chain. This eliminates confusion caused by duplicate product names or codes.
- Enhanced Visibility: GS1 standards allow manufacturers to capture and share detailed product information, including origin, ingredients, and manufacturing dates. This transparency builds trust with consumers and retailers.
- Streamlined Operations: GS1 facilitates seamless data exchange between businesses, leading to improved efficiency in logistics, inventory management, and recall processes.
A 2023 study by GS1 US found that 80% of retailers believe GS1 standards are essential for supply chain efficiency.
Key Components of GS1 Standards
- Global Trade Item Number (GTIN): The 14-digit number identifies products at any packaging level
- Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC): Improving traceability, the 18-digit number identifies logistics units (pallets, containers) reducing shipping errors.
- Global Location Number (GLN): An important identifier that facilitates efficient order-to-cash processes and reduces invoice errors. GLN is a 13-digit number that identifies physical location and legal entities.
- Electronic Product Code (EPC): The 96-bit or 198-bit code enables RFID tagging for real-time tracking. This increases inventory accuracy providing visibility into the supply chain.
Acviss: Adding a Layer of Security
Product authentication is key in fighting counterfeits in the supply chain. Customers are increasingly preferring products that provide a means to authenticate products before purchase. Product authentication paired with track & trace solutions easily identifies vulnerabilities in the chain prompting proactive security. Building upon the foundation laid by GS1 standards, Acviss adds an extra layer of security to the supply chain. Acviss leverages AI and blockchain-powered authentication with track and trace capabilities, widening the scope of effective deterrence of counterfeits and improving supply chain transparency.
- Unique Labelling System: The solution helps to integrate non-cloneable unique labels combined with serialisation into individual product units, making them easily identifiable and traceable down to the smallest retail package.
- Tamper-evident Features: The AI-integrated labelling system with security features implemented in the packaging helps to identify counterfeits and deter tampering attempts.
- Real-time Tracking: The solution provides real-time visibility into product movement throughout the supply chain. This allows manufacturers to identify potential diversions and take corrective action quickly.
A study by GS1 states that 79% of customers are more likely to purchase products with verifiable authenticity providing product information of their choice.
Why Acviss is Beneficial for Indian Manufacturers
Improved Supply Chain Visibility
Acviss enables brands to gain visibility into product movement across the supply chain, from manufacturing to distribution. This allows for proactively identifying and addressing potential problems, such as delays or quality defects.
Enhanced Inventory Management
Maintain accurate records of inventory quantities and locations with the traceability solution. Acviss helps to avoid lost sales due to out-of-stock items and minimises excess inventory costs. Deeper insights into the supply chain like historical data enable brands to predict future demand and optimise production planning.
Global Market Access
The solution acts as a digital certificate for the product adhering to global trade regulations and standards like EUDR, facilitating exports. The traceability solution allows to showcase the of sustainability reports enabling brands to expand to new customer segments across markets.
Key Features of Acviss Technology
- Unique Digital Identifiers: Acviss’s non-cloneable labelling system combines cryptographic algorithms with tamper-proof technology. Each product receives a unique identity that is verifiable using a mobile device. This prevents counterfeiting, and pilferage and enables tracking the product across the supply chain.
- Blockchain-Based Traceability: Blockchain allows tracking products at each stage of the supply chain with real-time data. Traceability combined with blockchain enables scalability and security. They also provide Proof of Authority (PoA) for faster transactions with selective disclosure for privacy.
- AI-Powered Analytics: Acviss’s AI-based anti-counterfeiting solution employs deep learning models for anomaly detection. Integrated with the supply chain traceability, the solution provides key data into market intelligence and consumer feedback.
- Mobile Authentication: Improving customer experience is critical to the success of an anti-counterfeit strategy. The custom-branded intuitive Acviss app enables seamless authentication for consumers. Offline authentication and multi-language support help to elevate the customer shopping experience with less effort in the authentication process.
Implementation Strategy for Indian Manufacturers
It is important for a brand to have an anti-counterfeiting strategy in place, no matter the size or nature of the business. A company-wide strategy involving the employees and management will ensure effective results and seamless integration with the existing process. How?
- Assess Current Systems: Conduct a thorough audit of existing product identification and traceability processes. Identify gaps in compliance with national and international standards. Make use of the GS1 India readiness assessment toolkit for manufacturers.
- Adopt GS1 Standards: Implement GTINs and other relevant GS1 identifiers for your product. Upgrade barcoding and labelling systems to support GS1-128 and DataMatrix codes. GS1 India provides certification programs for implementation teams which will help you to learn the know-how of the process.
- Integrate Technological Solution: Deploy anti-counterfeiting solutions based on technology, ensuring compatibility with GS1 Standards. The solution is customisable to meet the industry-specific requirements. Start implementing the solution on high-value or high-risk product lines before full-scale implementation.
- Train Staff: Educating employees on the new systems and processes is critical. Conduct hands-on workshops for operational teams. Develop a brand protection strategy that involves management and the employees to ensure a smooth adoption and functioning.
- Monitor and Optimise: Continuously analyse data to improve supply chain efficiency and security. Establish KPIs for measuring the impact of the integrated system. Conduct quarterly reviews to ensure compliance and identify optimisation opportunities
The Dual Approach in Action: A Case Study
A leading pharmaceutical brand with a market across Asia and European countries was combatting high threats of counterfeits and pilferage. They leveraged GS1 standards and assigned GTINs to each batch of medicine. This allowed them to attain the industry standards and reach a wider audience. However, the brand was able to overcome its challenges by partnering with Acviss. The unique non-cloneable labelling solution combined with GS1 standards captured detailed information about ingredients and expiry dates providing a verifying method for customers.
This dual approach empowers the company in several ways:
- Combating Counterfeits: Consumers were able to authenticate the product by scanning the unique code, reducing the risk of ingesting fake drugs.
- Improved Recall Management: The company was able to quickly identify and isolate affected batches in case of emergencies based on their unique serialisation implemented.
- Brand Reputation: The brand was able to build trust with the customers by providing a measure to verify the products they purchased. This also acted as proof of sustainability and the ethical practices the company followed.
Building a Future of Trust and Growth
Anti-counterfeiting is not a single push-a-button solution. It requires careful planning and finding the right tool to meet your brand. GS1 Standards along with Acviss offer a powerful combination for manufacturers. This empowers your brand to:
- Combat counterfeiting and protect brand reputation
- Enhance supply chain efficiency and transparency
- Build trust with consumers and retailers
- Gain a competitive edge in the global marketplace
When product authenticity and traceability are paramount for attaining customer trust, there is no excuse for a brand but to make it a necessity and pave the way for a future of sustainable growth built on trust and transparency.
Still not sure where to start? Get in touch with our experts for a quick call. Join the ranks of 80+ brands across the globe in securing your product in the market. Take a walkthrough of the technological solutions available and suit your brand after understanding your vulnerabilities. Remember, it is always better to stay proactive and protect your brand in the competitive market.
