GS1 UK offers top tips to get ready for 2010 adoption date

London 8 October 2007 -- GS1 UK, independent global supply chain standards and solutions organisation, today strongly recommends suppliers and retailers to start planning for the 2010 adoption date to ensure compatibility and take advantage of the new smaller, GS1 DataBar bar code.  The date marks when the bar codes – previously known as ‘Reduced Space Symbology’– will start to appear at retail checkouts to save time and improve efficiency.  Suppliers and retailers will also benefit from increased packaging space for branding and additional information.  Both Nestlé and Tesco are backing the adoption in the UK.

“We are already having to find more room for additional details on packaging, such as nutritional labelling, allergens, detailed product information, and, in the future, the likelihood of having to record carbon labelling, said Chris Tyas, supply chain director at Nestlé and vice chairman of GS1 UK.  “Increasing the available space on products by using smaller symbols such as the GS1 DataBar will help us achieve this.”

The GS1 DataBar will enable the identification of small and difficult to code products, such as cosmetics and loose fresh fruits and vegetables.  This increase in the number of items that can be scanned will help improve check-out speeds and provide more accurate sales data on a greater range of products. GS1 DataBar is also being developed with the option of carrying serial numbers, batch numbers, and expiry dates, all of which will support product authentication and traceability initiatives.

Most modern bar code scanning equipment is able to read the GS1 DataBar, but retailers will need to check their systems for compatibility.  Older scanner models, however, may need to be replaced to read the new bar codes.  To help pave the way and ensure their systems are ready for the new bar code, retailers can receive guidance, implementation and testing support and training from GS1 UK.

GS1 UK recommends that retailers take the following steps now to ensure that they are prepared for the introduction of the GS1 DataBar:

• Contact equipment suppliers to ensure scanners and point of sale technology is GS1 DataBar compliant –recent scanners will be.
• Test the scanning equipment -GS1 DataBar sample test cards are available from GS1 UK.
• Don’t forget to check electronic point of sale (EPOS) software and systems to ensure that they can present the data from GS1 DataBar to the relevant computer application.

“While larger retailers often have the IT resources available to put a GS1 DataBar readiness programme in place, there is concern that smaller independent retailers might act too late,” said Gary Lynch, chief executive of GS1 UK.  “There are 40,000 retail outlets in UK, and our role is to help all retailers, large and small, to be ready for the 2010 adoption date.”

About GS1 UK

GS1 UK has driven innovation in the supply chain for over thirty years. It is part of the global GS1 organisation, dedicated to the development and implementation of global data standards and solutions for the supply chain.  GS1 standards are the most widely used in the world. 

GS1 UK aims to make it faster, more cost effective and safer for our members to serve their customers through the industry wide adoption of global GS1 standards and locally delivered services.  GS1 UK helps industry to implement these data standards through the use of bar codes, RFID, Global Data Synchronisation (GDS) and electronic business messaging.

For more information contact:

Lisa Henshaw or Kirsty Sewter
Fourth Day PR
+44 (0)20 7403 4411

Suraya Adnan-Ariffin
GS1 UK
+44 (0)20 70923575

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