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GDSN & Bad Data Problem

Bad Data is the Root of all Evil

GDSN is an acronym that belies one of the major revolutions in data management in recent years. GDSN stands for Global Data Synchronisation Network.

What is GDSN?

Bad data has been a major problem with the databases that drive applications such as Order Processing, Logistics, Warehouse Management, Invoicing, and Point of Sale. If data about a product is inaccurate these systems fail to operate efficiently. This leads to costly overheads and wastage, driving up the cost of doing business.

The core of GDSN is Data - a central database (data pool) which stores information about products - over 150 different attributes such as the bar code or GTIN, the description, temperature, dimensions and weights, packaging data – the list goes on. Suffice to say that attributes stored are sufficient to provide reference information to enable all applications to execute their processing activities. Within the Data Management there is a cleansing process to ensure that the data entered is accurate.

Synchronisation means that the information is shared. It is pointless if the information is not shared and used by your trading partners. But synchronisation is not a static process, it is an ongoing activity - as and when new products are released and old products updated, your trading partners’ databases are updated. The aim is to automate this process - not to chase product information lists and specifications and then manually key enter the information (possibly making mistakes)

Global, as the name implies, means the requirements are globally managed - a common set of rules and definitions is applied to how data is represented and how that data is shared. Global management of data is vital. If everybody went off and defined their own data structures and how they should be shared, then companies would be dealing with as many diverse requirements as they have trading partners.

A number of these central databases (data pools) are already established. The objective is that you only have to supply your data once to a central database and that information is shared globally. The organisation requiring the data only has to access one of the data pools to receive the information. To enable this, the individual data pools are part of a network of data pools established along a core set of standards for data and data exchange of information.

The implementation of the GDSN is monitored and maintained by an independent authority. Development is overseen by GS1 using the Global Standards Management Process (GSMP) and users who participate in that process.

How does the GDSN work?

The diagram below developed by the Global Commerce Initiative is the best representation of the GSDN.