The Hardware GS1 Action Group (HGAG) has reported an industry barcode compliance rate of 80% to 85% at all levels of packaging.
Formed in 2008 by the Australian and New Zealand Hardware Sector, HGAG set out to make sure supply chain efficiencies and savings were able to be achieved throughout the sector.
An industry approach to product identification and barcoding was outlined and a ‘call to action’ was subsequently released for all hardware industry participants to fully support a commitment to assign and physically barcode all levels of packaging with GS1 compliant barcodes.
Several years on, the good news is that the hardware industry call to action has been successful. Today, the hardware industry is currently sitting at a barcode compliance rate of approximately 80% to 85% at all levels of packaging.
Other more specific and positive outcomes of the HGAG call to action include John Danks experiencing an exponential increase from 50% to 97% in numbering and barcoding at carton level over the past five years.
Errol Kennedy, John Danks’ inventory & procurement manager and HGAG steering committee chair commented: “Danks has not only witnessed a considerable increase in scan rates, but also vendor numbering and barcoding compliance, which is a result of the HGAG call to action.
“Other areas of improvement are a better awareness of when to use and change a barcode, what type of barcode to use, as well as better quality and positioning of barcodes.
“Both suppliers and retailers that are actively adopting these standards are now seeing tangible cost benefits across the supply chain,” Mr Kennedy said.
To continue this positive and compliant approach, HGAG encourages all suppliers to recognise and support the continued importance of numbering and barcoding at all levels of product packaging.