Safeway, Unilever complete global Transora-WWRE product data transfer
Safeway Inc., a major grocery retailer, and consumer products supplier Unilever have completed their first transfer of synchronized product data between trading exchanges WorldWide Retail Exchange and Transora, the companies said.
The data transfer project, which was two years in the making, is the first case of its kind of a retailer member of WWRE and a manufacturer member of Transora exchanging data using Global Data Synchronization standards, Safeway and Unilever said.
In the near future, more retailers and suppliers are expected to exchange synchronized product data through internationally connected Internet-based data pools such as Transora and WWRE, collectively known as the Global Data Synchronization Network, industry experts say. The synchronized data exchanges are designed to help retailers and their suppliers work with current, accurate product data, providing multiple benefits including more accurate purchase orders and invoices and better information about products moving through supply chains.
Analysts lauded Safeway’s and Unilever’s efforts. “It’s the first solid example of interoperability—which is critical to the success and adoption of the GDSN vision,” says Kara Romanow, analyst at AMR Research Inc. “While I’m disappointed it took this long to get here, I’m hoping it represents the beginning of in upswing in adoption—particularly in the retail segment.”
The project supports Safeway’s goal of improving data flow with suppliers to improve the way it gets products into stores, said Roger Lekberg, senior vice president, supply chain. "A crucial goal for Safeway is to be as flexible as possible when dealing with partners, while always maintaining focus on the Safeway shopper," he said. "Through the successful completion of this project, Safeway and Unilever have demonstrated that by adopting industry standards, critical product information exchange between manufacturers and retailers can be achieved in a scalable and rapid manner.”
Tom Barnhart, director of e-business, Unilever North America, said, “Unilever is committed to the Global Data Synchronization vision and we view this project as an important step towards the realization of that vision. The establishment of interoperability between Safeway and Unilever through our respective data pools, WWRE and Transora, provides a firm foundation for electronic collaboration. This initiative demonstrates how leading retailers and suppliers working together can achieve mutually beneficial results through alignment with the Global Data Synchronization Network."
Safeway completed the project using collaboration product information management software from Velosel Corp.
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