ECR, 24-26th May, Hall 12, Stand F02, Brussels Expo — Following on the heels of its official commitment to enable its solutions to support RFID and EPCglobalTM standards, GXS today announced its participation in the first demonstration of interoperability between components of the planned EAN.UCC Global Data Synchronisation Network (GDSN) and the EPCglobal Network run by VeriSign. The demonstration will illustrate how product information can be accessed from the EPC Network to provide visibility between synchronised product information and physical product movement.

“With the use of RFID becoming a reality in the retail industry, data associated to the reference number encoded in the RFID chip will provide the real long-term benefit of this technology,” said Alex Schumacher, director of retail strategy for GXS. “Participation in this demonstration is the first step in developing the network for the integration of EPC data into product information management processes for synchronising this data with internal systems.”

The demonstration will combine data from various sources and provide the user with a detailed description of the product and its shipping history to a retailer’s distribution centre. Product attributes like description, size and dimension information, will be accessed from GXS by integrating its Product Information Manager solution, through a web services interface known as Electronic Product Code Information Service (EPC IS), with the root Object Name Service (ONS) of the EPC Network.

“Global eXchange Services is a recognised leader in product information management and data synchronisation and we’re excited to be working with them to demonstrate proof of how the GDSN and EPC Network will work together,” said Brian Matthews, vice president of directory services at VeriSign. “The combined power of the GDSN and EPC Network forms the basis for the next leap forward in supply chain collaboration.”

The Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), the standard reference number behind both product identification and EPC-based inventory movement, must be shared in an accurate and timely fashion between trading partners. The vision for the GDSN is to ensure that new product introductions and changes are synchronised prior to order processing, and that synchronised data will support RFID-based tracking of shipments facilitated through the EPC Network.

“We are pleased by the commitment GXS has made to take a leadership role in implementing solutions that leverage the EPCglobal Network,” said Mike Meranda, president of EPCglobal US. “By working with our partner VeriSign, and other members of the EPCglobal community, we believe firms like GXS will help lower the barriers to adopting RFID standards throughout the industry.”

About EPCglobal
EPCglobal, Inc., a joint venture between EAN International and the Uniform Code Council (UCC), is a not-for-profit organisation entrusted to drive the global, multi-industry adoption and implementation of the EPC NetworkTM. EPCglobal leverages the nearly thirty year heritage of EAN International and the UCC in successfully partnering with industry. The neutral, consensus-based, standards organisation aims to make organisations more effective by enabling true visibility of information about items in the supply chain by developing and managing standards for the EPC Network. For more information on EPCglobal visit www.EPCglobalinc.org or www.EPCglobalUS.org. EPCglobal US is an affiliate of EPCglobal serving subscribers in the United States to help foster the adoption of the EPC Network and related technology.

About GXS
GXS is a leading global provider of B2B e-commerce solutions that simplify and enhance business process integration and collaboration. Organisations worldwide, including more than 75 percent of the Fortune 500, leverage GXS Trading Grid® to achieve balance between supply and demand. Active in the global standards arena, GXS solutions enable customers both large and small, to connect with global partners, synchronise product information, optimise inventory levels and demand forecasts, and accelerate the execution of supply chains.

Headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., GXS provides sales and support to businesses and their partners worldwide. For more information about GXS visit www.gxs.co.uk.