Reaching the Masses

Transora, one of the industry's leading data pool providers, recently launched its New Item Introduction Management solution that helps retailers and manufacturers eliminate paper-based new item forms. In addition, the company has successfully achieved Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) Interoperability Certification. This certification authorizes Transora to operate in the GDSN as both a Recipient and Source Data Pool. Transora's New Item Introduction Management solution is a paperless system providing key data regarding newly launched products. This is a significant improvement over today's manual, paper-based process as the solution allows trading partners to electronically synchronize new item data. This electronic synchronization of information enables new items to shelf faster with more accurate supply chain information. The solution also leverages existing data within the Transora solution, providing additional efficiencies for customers.

In the First Place
Georgia-Pacific Corp. was Transora's first customer to publish a new item hierarchy, using retailer-specific attributes to a retailer. "We are
pleased to see Transora continue to provide additional value in data synchronization with its New Item Introduction Management solution," says Kristine Zeman, director of sales technology and eBusiness for Georgia-Pacific's North American Consumer Products business. "This is an enhancement that will help us meet customer objectives and deliver supply chain efficiencies."

Transora expects its retailer customers to begin utilizing the new item introduction solution with their manufacturer supplier base in the coming months. Transora is also participating in the New Item Form Elimination Sub-Team of the GDSN Task Group to ensure its solution is consistent with evolving standards.

Certificate of Authenticity
Separately, Transora has also achieved GDSN certification for its Recipient and Source Data Pool solutions. The GDSN, which was launched last summer, is a global, Internet-based initiative that allows trading partners to quickly and efficiently synchronize accurate and up-to-date supply chain data. For a data pool to be certified, it must demonstrate full interoperability with all other participating data pools and the GS1 Global Registry. The GDSN Interoperability Certification process began on October 29, 2004, and was conducted by the Drummond Group Inc. (DGI). GS1 standards were used by participating data pools to execute a series of functionality tests focused on enabling data transactions, registry functionality and matrix interoperability. "This certification further solidifies Transora's leadership in the GDSN," says David Hutchings, Senior Director, Global B2B of Kraft Food Global. "Transora was the first data pool to register items in
the GS1 Registry and they continue to support this important industry initiative."