Product data quality

Product data quality is ultimately about the fact that the story of a product is understandable. For everyone in the whole grocery flow. Therefore, a common language is needed that everyone involved can understand.

Everyone who is affected by a grocery product, from manufacturers, vendors, transport companies and logistics centers, to shelf planners, stores, e-retailers, Omni channels and consumers must receive knowledge of products in a similar way. Otherwise, the grocery industry would not work as we expect it to.

Profits from Product Data Quality

For Swedish suppliers in the grocery trade, Validoo’s services annually generates

2.5 billion SEK (1.3%) in increased revenues and
1.5 billion SEK (2-5%) in reduced costs.

Source: Accenture, GS1 value proposition for FMCG suppliers, 2016.

Perspective on Product Data Quality

Digital language for a human experience

Companies are increasingly being evaluated according to the quality of their data. And the grocery trade is a good example of that. High data quality is fundamentally important both in the value chain and when meeting the consumer.

product data quality — Quality of content and ingredient lists creates consumer trust.

Quality that affects industry and society

When the digital trade item information follow the same standards in all channels, it has many advantages.

Products are not only understandable for people and machines. Data quality also accelerates the flow of goods, reduces the risk of waste and make transport and logistics much more efficient. Product data quality is, in other words, good for business and in the long run, affects our external environment less negatively.

Business benefits with Product Data Quality

It raises the consumers experience by ensuring that the product information is accurate, that ingredient lists, prices and nutrition information are correct.
Strengthens trust and cooperation between industry players and trading partners.
Increases efficiency in the value chain and reduces costs thanks to the common digital language.
Reduces delays in store and e-commerce due to fewer measurement errors.
Increases reliability, efficiency and safety in transportation and deliveries to stores and warehouses.
Leads to better compliance with industry standards and regulations.

GS1’s standard for trade item information

The grocery suppliers (DLF) and the Swedish Grocery Trade (SvDH), which owns GS1 Sweden, have decided that the grocery industry in Sweden will follow GS1’s international standard for article information. It is the language with which the products tell the story about themselves.

Product data quality is thus a measure of how well your product controls this digital language. The better the product data quality, the easier your products navigates through the grocery flow.

Just the same way it is easier for you ordering food at a bistro in Paris if you happen to speak French.

Do we speak the same language?

When your trade item information, without any faults, passes the manual quality assurance in Validoo where 70 different attributes are tested, your product data quality is good.

Product Data Quality in practice

Example of measurement and temperature

For stores to be able to do shelf planning they must know in advance the product’s dimensions. Here the product data quality plays a major role. It is important that you send the correct measurements, otherwise there is a risk that the product will not fit on the shelf or in the roller cage.

With the right product dimensions, transport can be planned so that everything fits and the capacity of the truck is optimized. Here, product data quality is important for environmental sustainability.

Quality down to the millimetre affects in the long run both economics and environmental sustainability.

The store also needs to know how the product is to be stored and handled. For example, a product that is to be stored in a freezer must not be left out in room temperature. This is an example of when product data quality can avoid large costs due to unnecessary misunderstandings.