In this GDSN guide explore the benefits of Global Data Synchronization Network for your business, discover industry-specific GDSN programs or learn more about how GDSN benefits for both retailers and suppliers.
This is a complete guide to GDSN (Global Data Synchronization Network). In this in-depth guide you’ll learn:
So if you’re ready to go “all in” with GDSN, this guide is for you.
In this chapter, we will cover:
- Definition of GDSN
- What does GDSN stand for
- History of GDSN
GDSN stands for Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) and is the world’s largest product data network. GDSN makes it possible for any company, in any market, to share high-quality product information seamlessly. Because companies of all sizes need the same thing—timely and reliable product information—to ultimately benefit consumers and patients.
GDSN, high-quality product content is uploaded, maintained, and shared automatically, ensuring trading partners have immediate access to the most current and complete information needed to exchange products on both local and global markets.
Any company that needs to send or receive product information can take advantage of GDSN by subscribing to a data pool like Commport Communications. Your data pool will enable you to set up your product content and synchronize it with all your trading partners so you can plug in reliable data for all markets at one time.
Your product content in the GS1 GDSN network will follow the GS1 Global Data Model standard, helping to create a seamless shopping experience across every channel.
The GS1 Global Data Model defines a globally consistent set of foundational product attributes needed to list, store, move, and sell your products. By simplifying and harmonizing the exchange of product data around the world, the GS1 Global Data Model increases operational efficiency for brand owners and retailers and improves data accuracy and completeness for consumers.
The history of GDSN can be traced back to the late 1990s when the concept of data synchronization was introduced by a group of companies in the retail industry.
In 1998, the Uniform Code Council (UCC), now known as GS1, formed a task force to develop standards for electronic data interchange (EDI) in the retail industry. The task force developed the first version of the GDSN, which was called the Global Registry of Master Data (GRMD). The GRMD was launched in 2004, and it allowed companies to exchange standardized product data with their trading partners.
In 2005, the UCC and EAN International merged to form GS1, a non-profit organization that is now responsible for managing the GDSN. GS1 has since developed and expanded the GDSN to support data synchronization in various industries, including healthcare, food service, and consumer packaged goods.
The GDSN has continued to evolve over the years, with new features and functionalities being added to the system. In 2016, GS1 launched the GDSN Major Release 3, which introduced new data attributes and enhanced the system’s performance and usability. In 2018, GS1 launched GDSN Major Release 4, which focused on improving data quality and increasing the adoption of the system.
Today, the GDSN is used by thousands of companies worldwide to synchronize product data with their trading partners. The system has become an essential tool for businesses looking to streamline their supply chain operations and improve the accuracy and consistency of their product data.
Retailers are increasingly requiring suppliers to “synchronize” their product data through the Global Data Synchronization Network. In the past, suppliers have provided product information through a variety of inefficient communication channels and manual processes, including paper catalogs, retailer-specific forms, online portals, price sheets, and standing offers. This is a significant management burden on suppliers as these manual processes often exist outside of computer systems, so it is difficult to keep the information updated as changes occur over the product life cycle. As a result, retailers are often faced with out-of-date and inaccurate product information in their stores and warehouses. Not having the information, they need, when they need it, can directly correlate to lost sales for the retailer and subsequently lost contracts for the supplier.
The Commport Datapool will enable you to set up your product content and synchronize it with all your trading partners, so you can obtain reliable data for all markets at one time.
When GS1 launched GDSN in October 2004, there were 74,000 items shared among trading partners in 13 countries.
As of 28 February 2023, there are over 40 million items in the Network shared among over 69,000 Trading Partners in 256 countries!
34% average GTIN Increase and 188% average GLN Increase
Since launch of GDSN, 84 Data Pools have certified and joined the GDSN
Today there are 53 Certified Data Pools in the network
Some Data Pools have left the network due to a variety of reasons:
In this chapter, we will go review:
- GDSN structure
- GS1 Terminologies
- Who can use GDSN
Before we learn about how GDSN works. Let’s talk more about GDSN data structure and GDSN terminologies.
The GDSN data structure consists of several components, including:
The GDSN data structure is designed to be flexible and adaptable to different industries and product categories. Companies can use the standard attributes and codes provided by GS1 or create their own custom attributes and codes to meet their specific needs. This flexibility allows companies to synchronize product data in a way that is relevant and meaningful to their business and trading partners.
Data pools must pass the GS1 GDSN Interoperability Tests with all data pools for mandatory functionality as contained in the GDSN Certification Event process. Each of the 42 certified data pools must maintain production-level connections to all other certified data pools, post-certification. This helps ensure a fully interoperable GDSN landscape to meet the business needs of retailers and manufacturers globally.
A GLN is a Global Location Number and is part of the GS1 systems of standards which is used to identify locations and legal entities. This unique identifier is 13 digits, comprised of a GS1 Company Prefix, Location Reference, and Check Digit.
All data sources and data recipients must have a GLN to operate in the GDSN.
GLNs are used to identify parties to business transactions; functional groups within a company; or real, physical “places” that might ship, receive, process, or hold inventories.
whole companies; subsidiaries or divisions within a company; health system corporation; etc.
Functional Entities: specific departments within a legal entity, such as an accounting department, purchasing department, hospital pharmacy, etc.
manufacturing facility, distribution center, warehouse, dock door, hospital wing, bin location, retail store, etc.
An electronic or non-physical address such as an EDI gateway or ERP system
The GLN is a required component for using the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) and various types of e-commerce transactions. This global identification system of GS1 helps assure that the GLN placed in a barcode or Electronic Product Code (EPC) is the same information contained in the corresponding electronic documents processed between trading partners.
Data carriers:
GLNs in barcodes can help to route products to their destination or capture where they came from. The use of EPC®/RFID and readers identified with GLNs can support automatically capturing the movement of goods without the need for line-of-sight scanning or other manual intervention.
Systems and communications:
Sharing information relating to parties and locations using GLN within GS1 standards like EDI and EPCIS will enhance transitional data and physical event data.
A GTIN is a unique product ID based on an EAN.UCC number that identifies a specific product at a specific level of packaging, examples: Each, Inner, Carton, Pallet:
The GTIN facilitates separate item records for each level of packaging for the same product IF the packaging is the supplier’s standard packaging and IF each level of packaging contains a separate standard EAN.UCC bar code label.
The Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) can be used by a company to uniquely identify all of its trade items. GS1 defines trade items as products or services that are priced, ordered, or invoiced at any point in the supply chain. GS1 Global Registry holds information on who subscribed to trade items or party data using Global Location Numbers (GLN), Global Trade Identification Numbers (GTIN), Global Product Classifications (GPC), and Target Market (TM) as identifiers.
The GTIN can be used to identify types of products at any packaging level (e.g., consumer unit, inner pack, case, pallet, etc.) as it moves through the global value chain to the end user. If a product comes back into the value chain as a re-sold item or needs to be recalled, it can be re-identified by its original GTIN.
Although GTINs are frequently encoded within a barcode, they can also be used on their own (some major online sellers use GTINs to authenticate a product before allowing it to be sold on their platform. GTINs can be used to identify trade items online, for example in catalogs, in electronic messages such as purchase orders and invoices, and embedded in web pages to optimize use by search engines and other information consumers.
GPC is a product category/class system used by GS1 to ensure each product is classified uniformly everywhere in the GDSN network. The GPC provides trading partners with a common way to classify and group their products using a multi-level hierarchy. UNSPSC codes are available as well.
The GPC standard helps global trading partners to group or categorize products in the same way, everywhere in the world. The resulting common business language is clear and instantly understandable.
The GPC follows a four-tier classification system. The four tiers are Segment, Family, Class, and Brick (with attributes)
9. GDSN Digital Content
To start with 37 mandatory attributes are required to sync the product data via GDSN. These are classified into 2 types:
| BMS ID | GDD Name (Business Message Standard [BMS] information) |
|---|---|
|
161 |
gpcCategoryCode |
|
4412 |
registryCatalogItemStateCode |
|
4403 |
registryCatalogItemIdentification |
|
4401 |
creationDateTime |
|
6723 |
documentActionCode |
|
4402 |
documentStatusCode |
|
6724 |
documentStructureVersion |
|
6727 |
extension |
|
6730 |
time |
|
4414 |
dataSource |
|
67 |
gtin |
|
112 |
targetMarketCountryCode |
|
4417 |
targetMarketSubdivisionCode |
|
4422 |
lastChangedDateTime |
|
4423 |
registrationDateTime |
|
4404 |
entityIdentification |
|
6725 |
lastUpdateDateTime |
|
4405 |
contentOwner |
|
6726 |
revisionNumber |
|
4406 |
gln |
|
6728 |
documentEffectiveDate |
|
6689 |
additionalPartyIdentification |
|
6729 |
date |
| BMS ID | Attribute Name (Business name) | GDD Name (Business Message Standard [BMS] information) |
|---|---|---|
|
56 |
Base Unit Indicator |
isTradeItemABaseUnit |
|
57 |
Consumer Unit Indicator |
isTradeItemAConsumerUnit |
|
58 |
Shipping Unit Indicator |
isTradeItemADespatchUnit |
|
60 |
Orderable Unit Indicator |
isTradeItemAnOrderableUnit |
|
66 |
Product Hierarchy Level Code |
tradeItemUnitDescriptorCode |
|
85 |
Data Provider Name |
partyName |
|
144 |
Product Information Effective Date/Time |
effectiveDateTime |
|
1025 |
First Ship Date/Time |
startAvailabilityDateTime |
|
2186 |
Packaging Type Code |
packagingTypeCode |
|
3508 |
Product Type Description |
functionalName |
|
3517 |
Product Description |
tradeItemDescription |
|
3541 |
Brand Name |
brandName |
|
3721 |
Depth/Length |
depth |
|
3725 |
Height |
height |
|
3739 |
Width |
width |
|
3777 |
Gross Weight |
grossWeight |
Empower your business with global data synchronization; download our GDSN Buyer's Guide today and take the first step towards streamlined, accurate, and compliant product data management.
In this chapter, we will be explaining 'How GDSN Works'
We will also cover why GDSN is important for your business.
Let's get started!
The information supplier loads the product and company information in its data pool which validates the data
The data pool sends key information about the supplier and product data to the GS1 Global Registry
An information recipient through its own data pool subscribers to receive the information
The recipient data pool will forward the subscription to the GS1 Global Registry which in turn will forward the subscription to the source data pool.
The information supplier’s data pool matches the publication with a subscription. This is called the pub sub Match.
The source data pool then sends the matching data to the recipient’s data pool.
The recipient’s data pool publishes the matching data to the recipient.
The recipient reviews the data received from the supplier and sends a confirmation message to the supplier via the source data pool.
The two main building blocks of GDSN are:
Within the GDSN, items are identified using a unique combination of GS1 identification keys and target market, the country where the item is intended to be sold.
The two GS1 identification keys are:
The GDSN enables manufacturers and sellers of goods to harmonize information about their products with their customers. Retailers and other buyers of goods subscribe to vendor catalogs and receive updates on them.
These updates are triggered when new items are added, existing items change, or items are discontinued. All kinds of data points can be synchronized, from identifiers such as UPC codes and vendor part numbers to descriptions and dimensions, and images. Data Pools’ facilitate the sharing of data by ensuring that the product information is formatted correctly and managing the subscriptions and publication of data.
Manufacturers and sellers benefit by having only one catalog to maintain and update. Buyers benefit from having item information continuously updated to ensure it is correct and current.
Unlike a closed data pool or product registry, the GDSN is a global network where buyers and sellers are free to choose any of the approximately 53 certified data pools as their provider, independent of whom their trading partner has chosen. And the standards are global, enabling the sharing of product data in multiple languages and across national boundaries.
The use of global standards within the GDSN ensures that a manufacturer or seller of goods can easily populate their GDSN catalog once and share that information with customers around the world. This eliminates the need for ‘local’ attributes based on one country or region. For buyers, global standards mean that they will receive the same data points from suppliers anywhere in the world. Committees from all industries and countries with representatives from both supplier and buyer organizations met to develop these standards.
Empower your business with global data synchronization; download our GDSN Buyer's Guide today and take the first step towards streamlined, accurate, and compliant product data management.
In this chapter, we will be explaining 4 steps process to choose a right GDSN provider
We will also cover details of what is GS1 GDSN certified datapool provider and its importance.
Lets get started!
GDSN is a universally accepted set of data formatting standards that ensures senders and receivers of product data are operating within the same structure and maintaining the highest levels of data integrity.
Over the next few years, retailers requiring their suppliers to provide GDSN-compliant data will be growing exponentially. The major players in U.S. retail are already mandating it, and it’s just a matter of time before it works its way through the system to include every national and regional chain in Canada and the U.S.
If you’re a supplier that is currently selling to a national or regional chain, or if you have plans to start in the near future, it’s in your best long-term interest to start laying the groundwork to provide GDSN-compliant product data. Here are a few tips on selecting a GDSN-certified and ensuring that your transition to this new industry standard goes smoothly.
For buyers and sellers just entering the world of GDSN, the most important factor in deciding which provider to utilize is that you do not have to use the same GS1certified GDSN provider as your trading partners. By definition, all GDSN certified data pool providers can seamlessly interact and exchange data with one another.
That opens up the field considerably. Although there only a handful of GDSN-compliant solution providers operating in North America right now, the number is expected to grow significantly over the next few years, and with it will come a wide variety of fee structures, solution options and service levels. These are the elements you should be focusing on.
Compare competing pricing plans – upfront sign-up cost, usage fees and annual maintenance charges. You’ll be surprised at how many ways there are to pay for services that essentially have the same end result! Choose a plan that best suits your business needs based on your product line, and future plans. A quality GDSN provider will act as a consultant, helping you to make the right decisions for your company’s implementation.
Consider the GDSN solutions offered by a provider. Does their product offering meet all your needs or will you be forced to bring in other partners to achieve your goals? Are they targeting their platform toward large multinational traders or the SME market? Is it industry-specific or adaptable to wider uses? Does their GDSN solution need to be integrated into your existing IT infrastructure or is it hosted remotely and accessed through a PC via the internet? What kind of reporting options do they offer? Have they invested in developing and updating their own proprietary platform or are they reselling another company?
Lastly, as with any company you’re considering doing business with, investigate their operations. Ask to speak to current clients to learn about their experiences with set-up and training, ongoing customer service support, and continuous improvements to the application.
Of course, deciding on a GDSN-compliant provider is just the beginning. Now it’s time to make any necessary adjustments to your current methods of managing product data, integrate the new GDSN platform into your daily business, and establish the data pipeline with your trading partner.
The best GDSN providers view themselves as true business partners and will be with you every step of the way here. Their expertise will prove invaluable in preparing a comprehensive project plan that explains every step of the process, allocates responsibilities, and outlines expected completion dates from the first training session right through to the final item synchronization. Also, look for a GDSN solution partner that assigns dedicated support staff to each project. There’s nothing better than being on a first-name basis with the resources that are helping you prepare your business for the next chapter in its success!
In this chapter, we will be explaining how to get started with Commport GDSN Datapool.
We will also cover the importance of Commport GDSN Datapool Solution for retailers and suppliers.
Let's jump right in!
Commport supports both supply and demand side trading partner needs, delivering comprehensive and customized GDSN data pool solutions.
Commport’s Datapool Solution provides businesses with a complete range of GDSN data pool options. In addition to the datapool itself, our experienced team will help determine the best solutions for your immediate business needs while laying a foundation for future growth.
Retailers are an important link in the supply chain, connecting suppliers with end consumers. Providing a reliable supply of products to retail customers means maintaining an equally reliable flow of product data in their relationship with their suppliers. Global Data Synchronization (GDS) is a key strategy in this process.
A Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) data pool or data feed automates the flow of product data in real time between retailers and their suppliers, creating more efficiency for greater cost-effectiveness.
Tactically, retailers participate in Global Data Synchronization by subscribing to their suppliers’ data through a certified datapool. This subscription allows them to receive automated updates on supplier and product information for up-to-the-minute visibility.
Commport Datapool offers unique features to enable retailers to manage their data synchronization initiative. As a GDSN-certified datapool, Commport offers full GDSN access along with our comprehensive Message Center. This detailed view enables retailers to manage and track their data synchronization initiative with their supplier community, providing real time visibility into the communications process quickly and easily.
The Commport Datapool provides comprehensive and flexible integration options allowing retailers to define the global data sync model that works best for them. Commport’s experienced team works with individual retailers to identify their specific integration, data management and supplier community-enablement model. Our support encompasses consulting and project management to help retailers become part of the GDSN.
Suppliers know the products they are selling better than anyone else. Not only are they the source of products in the supply chain, but they are also the source of the information about those products. The key for suppliers is to have high-quality product master data and to communicate it efficiently and effectively with all customers using Global Data Synchronization.
Commport Datapool offers unique features to enable suppliers and supply-side organizations to easily onboard, manage and synchronize their item data with their demand-side customers.
Commport offers a number of tools and solutions whereby suppliers can upload their item data into the GDSN data pool, including:
Creating a new product in the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) involves several steps. Here’s a general overview of the process:
Note that the exact steps and requirements for creating a new product in the GDSN may vary depending on your industry and region. It is recommended that you work with a GDSN-certified data pool provider like Commport which offers the flexibility for suppliers to integrate their Product Information Management tasks with their GDSN data pool activities.
Here are the steps on How to Get Started with Commport GDSN Datapool
Commport Datapool will provide the information you need to make an informed decision in becoming GDSN compliant with your trading partner.
Commport Datapool will register you, as our customer with GDSN inc. and the Global Registry. We will also create for you your own secure account hosted at our security-audited hosting facility.
Commport Datapool offers an online self-guided tutorial which will provide you, as a new Commport Datapool client, with the foundational knowledge you’ll need for the reminder of the project.
As a part of our service, a dedicated customer support representative will take you through the data loading process on approximately twelve sample items.
Once you have loaded the balance of the product information into the system, our Customer Support Representative will review your file for GDSN standards compliance and an automated verification occurs.
Once your data has been registered with the Global Registry, and the data has been successfully synchronized with your trading partner, you and Commport Data pool agree on the project’s completion.
Empower your business with global data synchronization; download our GDSN Buyer's Guide today and take the first step towards streamlined, accurate, and compliant product data management.
In this chapter, we will be exploring the benefits of GDSN for both retailers and suppliers.
GDSN makes product data exchange easy between retailers and suppliers by providing a real time data sync to most up to date information at all times.
Let's explore the benefits of GDSN!
The Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) is a standardized system that enables businesses to share accurate and up-to-date product information with their trading partners. GDSN provides businesses with a range of benefits, including improved supply chain efficiency, reduced costs, increased sales, improved customer experience, and enhanced brand visibility. By providing accurate and standardized product data, GDSN can help businesses launch products faster, reduce errors in order fulfillment, and comply with regulatory requirements for product information and labeling. With the increasing importance of data accuracy and transparency in the global marketplace, GDSN is an essential tool for businesses looking to improve their supply chain operations and gain a competitive advantage.
Businesses should evaluate the data pool’s compatibility with their systems, the quality of customer support, integration capabilities, cost-effectiveness, and the pool’s ability to handle their specific industry requirements.
GDSN ensures that product data adheres to international standards and regulations, such as GS1 standards, helping businesses meet legal and market-specific requirements while reducing compliance risks.
Suppliers benefit from streamlined product data management, reduced manual data entry errors, improved compliance with trading partner requirements, and faster time-to-market for new products.
GDSN supports synchronization of data such as product descriptions, dimensions, weights, pricing, nutritional information, safety data, and regulatory information, ensuring comprehensive and accurate product details.
Industries like retail, healthcare, consumer goods, and food service benefit greatly from GDSN. These sectors rely on accurate and consistent product data for supply chain management, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction.
