Data synchronization has proven to be one of the largest hurdles to the large-scale adoption of e-commerce and EDI (Electronic Data Interchange). Once companies become connected electronically, the issue becomes one of the validity of the data being exchanged. One problem that has become painfully apparent to many companies doing electronic purchasing (and to their suppliers) has been in the accuracy of the product data itself.

UCCnet (a non-profit subsidiary of the Uniform Code Council, the developers of the UPC code) provides a global repository where companies can register their product data and share it with all of their trading partners. UCCnet’s GLOBALregistry™ provides suppliers with a single, internet-based library as a standardized, real-time means for exchanging product data with their customers. Registering your products in the global registry and then sharing that product data with your customers in real time provides the following benefit:

• Reduced number of inaccurate orders from your customers and faster order fulfillment
• Reduced internal costs for handling incorrect orders and correcting incorrect or out-of-date product information with your customers
• Faster time-to-market for new products (near instantaneous product introductions)
• Stronger trading partner communication and collaboration

By adopting a UCCnet-based platform for synchronizing your product data with your trading partners, you will also need to adopt the standards outlined by the EAN/UCC for categorizing, identifying, relating and describing your entire product catalog. This not only allows companies to align their data with their trading partners for better visibility but also serves to better align and cleanse your internal catalog, bringing additional value and benefit to your company. This compliance also forces ongoing maintenance of your catalog, which ensures that you will always be providing your customers with the most current and pertinent product data.