Representatives from 11 different traceability solution providers formalised their partnership into the Traceability Solution Provider Special Interest Group (TSP-SIG).
TSP-SIG says it will be an eco-system of like-minded solution providers with the goal of assisting government and industry in understanding and implementing traceability solutions. It aims to connect and share perspectives on solution requirements based on industry needs and trends.
The group is governed by a committee and three co-chairs – Michael Dossor (Result Group), Reeanjou Ram (iTrazo TraceTech) and Luke Wood (Escavox).
Steering committee members are Mark Toohey (Aglive), Ilango Surendran (iFoodDecisionsSciences), Blair Mietzmann (insignia), Laszlo Peter (KPMG), Paul Ryan (Trust Codes), Greg Calvert (FreshChain Systems), Trent Munro (Matthews Australasia) and Roger Meilke (4Technology).
The group is open to all traceability solution providers. No specific sector or industry segment is a primary focus, ait says instead a holistic and whole-of-economy approach will be taken, recognising that product flows between, as well as through, domestic and international supply chains.
“Australia is well-positioned to lead and leverage the next wave of transformation and innovation in global and domestic trade,” according to the group.
“This transformation is providing enormous opportunity for industry and regulatory modernisation with a goal of improved productivity, competitiveness, efficiency and effectiveness.
“Solution providers working with open and inter-operable global data standards play a critical role in this process.”
GS1 Australia will support the group by providing secretariat duties, industry insight, engaging with its membership, discussing and developing project opportunities that align solution providers with industry needs.
Key activities of the TSP-SIG include:
- Representing the interests of traceability solutions in the industry as a whole, and make recommendations to the NGTAG and GS1 Australia;
- Assessing and learning about technological innovations, and the ability for Global Data Standards, to underpin their on-going development for the benefit of all stakeholders;
- Engagement and events to share to share information about industry needs, opportunities, capabilities, and lessons learned of collective and mutual benefit to members;
- Suggestions and advice to industry and government regarding the benefit, potential and value of global data standards to support specific industry sectors and business use cases;
- Reviewing and evaluating of sector strategies, national and regional programs and projects focused on enhanced product traceability across the supply chain;
- Helping industry and government improve business processes and solutions based on global data standards, common frameworks, and national public policy;
- Providing technical advice, research insight and expertise concerning developments or proposed changes to GS1 traceability standards of relevance to Australian industry, sectors, or value chain segments; and
- Developing strategies and processes that enable ease of deployment and interaction with all stakeholders in the traceability eco-system – from brand to product owner, through all parts of the supply chain to consumer and customer.
Success criteria is identified as:
- Active engagement of the technical community of interest;
- Effective representation of solutions and solution providers across multiple sectors and supply chain segments;
- Increased understanding and use of global data standards not limited to GS1 standards to support enhanced supply chains traceability, safety, resilience and performance;
- Engagement of state and federal government representatives in Advisory Group activity;
- Active management and communication of opportunities, as well as technical risk to Australian industry of using proprietary vs. standards-based systems;
- Sharing and promoting leading and best industry practice and case studies published by members or others acknowledged by the TSP-SIG; and
- Active communicating with NGTAG and GS1 Australia.
