GDSN®

Every retailer needs product master data when listing a new trade item. This implies that for each individual retailer, suppliers have to deal with numerous product information sheets and product portals. With GDSN it is possible to send data to all registered retailers just once which streamlines the whole process. GDSN makes this process much easier as it requires inputting data only once whereby all retailers that have subscribed receive product data from GDSN.

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GDSN (Global Data Synchronization Network) allows trade partners to globally synchronize their products’ master data. Suppliers are given the possibility to enter their products’ master data into the GDSN and publish it for a particular market – for example the Czech Republic, or for particular retailers only, if they so wish. The standardized format of exchangeable data in the GDSN allows for easy downloading by any retailer connected to the GDSN, although suppliers must obviously first grant a retailer permission to do this.

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How it works?

GDSN allows registered trade partners to share products’ master data. The GDSN architecture also ensures that if one supplier updates his/her data, this change is automatically sent to all retailers who have subscribed to receive the data. Thus, all users have access to the same up – to – date information.

A supplier enters a products’ master data to his/her certified GDSN data pool and publishes it for particular selected business partners or for the whole target market. Retailers can then subscribe to access the whole portfolio of a particular supplier, particular products only or a product category. After the retailer is subscribed, all the relevant data including all the updates made by a supplier are automatically delivered to him/her.

Benefits for suppliers

The main benefit is easier product data management: instead of populating several different product information sheets for different retailers, it is possible to add data just once in the GDSN and to forward this to all registered retailers instantly. In the same way it is possible in the GDSN to update the data just once, as this change is then automatically sent to all retailers who subscribe to the data.

Other benefits

Lower data management costs
Data validated before being sent to retailers
Trade item uniqueness check
Less errors in EDI
Higher market- entry speed for products
Faster and easier product promotion
Process optimization – procurement, logistics, warehousing.

How to get involved?

Every supplier or retailer who wants to use GDSN has to apply for registration. The login credentials to grant a 30 days trial access for the test environment can be provided on request. During this period a user can find out how GDSN works without making any commitment. Suppliers already registered in GS1 system can also attend GDSN trainings for free and thus gain even more information.

Being given an access into the production environment requires to make an agreement. After signing the contract an invoice is sent to the user. He/she is also sent login credentials into the test environment, had they not been received them earlier.

Every new user must attend a training which covers topics such as how to work with data pool and basic information about related GS1 standards. If the supplier has already taken the training earlier, he/she does not have to do so again. After training, every user must enter 5 different item packaging hierarchies into the Test interface. GS1 Czech Republic will then check whether the basic requirements for entering the data into the data pool have been met. If this is satisfactory the user is given credentials to a production version of the data pool, where he/she can enter the rest of the products’ data and then publish them for the whole market or for particular retailers.

The annual fee for using the data pool starts at EUR 200 (excluding VAT).

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Tomáš Tlučhoř (tluchor@gs1cz.org).

How to enter data into GDSN

There are 2 possibilities for entering data into GDSN.

Web user interface – a supplier will enter data into the data pool using a web application. The data can be entered either manually, via the web form, or uploaded from an Excel spreadsheet. This data input method is usually the best for small and medium-sized organizations.
M2M – machine-to-machine integration of GDSN with a user’s information system. This approach is suitable for large organizations.

Pilot project and going live

A GDSN pilot project was organized in June 2016. The following suppliers and retailers participated:

More than 130 items (GTINs) were entered into GDSN during the pilot project. Based on the pilot project results several improvements were made and the GDSN was launched for the Czech market in November 2016.

A first retailer started to use GDSN on a daily basis at the beginning of 2017.

Access to the data pool

The production environment of the data pool can be accessed by registered users here.

The test environment of the data pool can be accessed by registered users here.

The data pool which is offered by GS1 Czech Republic is powered by 1WorldSync, the world’s largest GDSN provider.

Documentation

Easy and low cost product master data exchange [PDF; 2,14 MB]
Your one-stop-shop for Quality B2B and B2C data: brief overview of GDSN benefits.
How to get involved [PDF; 0,38 MB]
How to get access to the GDSN certified data pool step by step.
1WorldSync GDSN data pool manual [PDF; 7,25 MB]
Detailed user manual for certified GDSN data pool powered by 1WorldSync –web user interface WS|Publishing.

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