eBay, Google and Walmart Endorse GS1 US Guide for Improving Online Commerce

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J., March 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- eBay, Google and Walmart have endorsed a new GS1 US guide that helps businesses improve ecommerce by resolving incorrect and duplicate product information online. Developed for e-tailers, retailers, ecommerce platform providers, content aggregators and content distributors, the GTIN Validation Guide, offers best practices for leveraging GS1 Standards to enhance the consumer shopping experience while boosting e-tailer efficiency, revenue and loyalty. It also offers improvements for better data management and product analytics.

Global Trade Item Numbers® (GTIN®), the numbering sequence within barcodes and commonly called Universal Product Codes (U.P.C.), are the foundation of the GS1 System of Standards and have identified products at point-of-sale for 40 years. The GTIN Validation Guide supports extending GTINs online to help ensure more accurate and consistent product descriptions that link to images and promotions, including coupons. Large online marketplaces and search engines already require GTINs to better help customers find, evaluate and purchase products online.

"As we continue to create a seamless shopping experience across online, mobile and stores, we rely on accurate and consistent product information," said Jeremy King, chief technology officer at Walmart Global eCommerce. "The GS1 US GTIN Validation Guide is an important tool for improving the quality of product data and the relevance of online and mobile search results." 

Executives from Google and eBay have also realized the value of using GS1 Standards online for improved product identification, and support the GTIN Validation Guide. "GS1 Standards have been invaluable in our efforts to improve the online shopping experience by harmonizing product data and eliminating inaccuracies. We welcome this new guide," said Eric Tholomé, product management director, Google Shopping. The same sentiment was echoed by Amit Menipaz, general manager of structured data, eBay Marketplaces. He said, "The GTIN Validation Guide will help eBay find and resolve incorrect, duplicate and conflicting product information, improving visibility for merchant offers and enhancing the consumer search experience."

The GTIN Validation Guide aims to help retailers, e-tailers and solution providers offer consumers a consistent search, discovery, and purchase experience, which has become challenging as shoppers increasingly move through multiple channels, including traditional Internet shopping, mobile applications and brick-and-mortar stores. The Guide also offers assistance for determining whether a GTIN is valid and correctly assigned according to the GS1 System of Standards. 

"Every day, millions of online buyers create more demand for trusted sources of accurate product data," said Bob Carpenter, president and CEO of GS1 US. "Successful organizations must respond by providing a seamless, convenient shopping experience that delivers complete and accurate online content. Businesses that use GS1 Standards can improve data quality and help consumers find the right product in the right place at the right time, leading to higher levels of traffic and sales."

GS1 Standards have saved businesses billions of dollars through increased labor efficiencies and improvements in data capture and management. As a result, hundreds of thousands of business have already invested in using GTINs in their physical supply chains, making GS1 Standards the most widely used supply chain standards system in the world. GS1 Standards are a global language for business and enable accurate identification and communication of information regarding products, assets, services, and locations. The use of GS1 Standards leads to increased product safety, reduced costs, improved business analytics, and an enhanced consumer experience.

For more information about GS1 US and to obtain a copy of the GS1 US GTIN Validation Guide, visit: www.gs1us.org/gtinvalidationguide. For more information about GS1 Us, visit www.gs1us.org.

About GS1 US
GS1 US, a member of GS1®, is an information standards organization that brings industry communities together to solve supply-chain problems through the adoption and implementation of GS1 Standards. More than 300,000 businesses in 25 industries rely on GS1 US for trading-partner collaboration and for maximizing the cost effectiveness, speed, visibility, security and sustainability of their business processes. They achieve these benefits through solutions based on GS1 global unique numbering and identification systems, barcodes, Electronic Product Code-based RFID, data synchronization, and electronic information exchange. GS1 US also manages the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code® (UNSPSC®). www.GS1US.org

SOURCE GS1 US