The Global Data Synchronization Network continues to grow

This brings the total number of registered items to more than 2 million, with the increase in 2007 equal to the number of items registered in the previous three years.

The growth of registered items can be attributed to the adoption of the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) globally.

"GS1 has delivered the system which users described in their business requirements, it is great to see the increase in item registration this past year" said Raed Al-Samahiji, President and CEO GS1 Bahrain, the sole representative of GS1 GDSN Inc's in the Kingdom of Bahrain. "Achieving this usage milestone indicates that data synchronization's benefits are understood around the world and that the GDSN network is enabling business users."

The GS1 Global Registry is a global directory operated by GS1 GDSN which allows companies to locate source/supplier or recipient/retailer data pools to exchange standardized data with trading partners.

The growth in adoption of GDSN worldwide will be further accelerated with the certification of 6 new data pools, including: GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg, GS1 China, GS1 Croatia, GS1 Greece, GS1 Hungary and GS1 Sweden.

Their certification was facilitated by the Drummond Group Inc, a leading interoperability and conformance testing company.

This brings the total number of GDSN certified data pools to 26, supporting data synchronization in over 50 countries worldwide.

"Certified data pools offer an access point and related services for companies to leverage the benefits of the GDSN and the GS1 Global Registry. Together we operate the GDSN enabling companies to increase efficiency and lower supply chain costs through data synchronization" says Sally A. Herbert, President GS1 GDSN, Inc. "Data synchronization also drives the need for trading partners to focus on creating and maintaining reliable data, as well as shifting their business relationships to be more collaborative", she added.

The GDSN and data synchronization standards ensure that trade item information about a product - such as dimensions, descriptions, GTIN, - is accurate across trading partner systems at any given point in time.

Over 10,000 of the world's leading retailers and suppliers have already made the Global Data Synchronization Network a cornerstone of their successful electronic business practice saving costs through efficiencies in logistics, accounting and inventory.