Unmasking The Complexities of Data Sync

Major retailers and mass merchants are turning up the pressure on their trading partners and even other retailers to implement global data synchronization within organizations. These advocates see GDS and participation in the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) as the best path to improving the timeliness and accuracy of their supply chains, particularly once these efforts are
broadly supported across the retail supply chain landscape. The GDSN industry initiative promotes the concept of a unified global data synchronization effort, coordinated and implemented by standards organizations. The premise is that businesses should implement now, then wait to see eventual benefit once end users and commercial service providers have worked through all of the obstacles.

Overlooked in this premise is that many sectors within retail, particularly general merchandise and apparel, have been employing data synchronization best practices for nearly 20 years via business-to-business data exchange using industry standards. These users are already receiving the ROI that is promised by GDS advocates, whose system will require some level of new investment. No wonder there is a considerable undercurrent of discussion among retailers, suppliers and others questioning the value and direction of certain components of the GDSN standards initiative. So why is there a push to adopt new standards and processes