Global Manufacturers Increase use of Global Data Synchronization Network

CHICAGO — Global manufacturers Kraft Foods (KFT), Nestlé (NESN) and The Procter & Gamble Company (PG), along with German-based retailer METRO Group (MEOG.DE), announced today they have extended the use of the Global Data Synchronization Network(GDSN) to synchronize item data in Russia.

The supply-chain partners are leveraging the GDSN connections of two GDSN data-pool providers. Kraft, Nestlé and P&G are members of 1SYNC; METRO Group uses SA2 Worldsync as its global home data pool, which is also the GS1-approved country data pool for the entire Russian user community.

Kraft, Nestlé and P&G intend to synchronize their product catalogues in multiple countries with METRO Group representation.

Enabling active GDSN connections in Russia is a milestone for the data-synchronization industry given Russia’s market conditions.

 “By synchronizing product data with METRO Group in Russia, we are able to get real-time inventory updates from Metro’s stores in the region,” said Janna Kouchina, Director Sales, Kraft Foods Russia. “This gives us the ability to get our products to the store shelf faster. We hope that more retailers will adopt this process, giving us the ability to experience similar benefits across our supply chain globally.”

Urs Ulrich Katzenstein, Head of Master Data Exchange, METRO Group, said, “We are very satisfied with the outcome from accurate global data synchronization and are working toward synchronizing item data with all our suppliers globally. With the GDSN connection in Russia, other trading partners will benefit as well. Together with our partners from retail and industry we see ourselves as pioneers, establishing more efficient trade relations worldwide.”

In addition to Russia, METRO Group is currently synchronizing GDSN data via SA2 Worldsync in Germany, Poland and the U.K. The retailing company is working toward rolling out its efforts to other countries, such as Denmark and Hungary. The adoption rate of the GDSN is steadily increasing and currently contains more than 3.1 million registered items with Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs).