Cary Rossel Chairman, ABI EC Vice President/CFO, Glazer’s IN THIS ISSUE:			Welcome to the September 2005 Edition of ABI EC News. Our goal at the ABI EC Council is to establish dynamically evolving standards to facilitate the utilization of electronic commerce within the alcohol beverage industry and to promote global adoption of established standards and practices by industry members, partners, and government agencies. We believe this edition contains important information that can help you to add efficiency to your business through the utilization of these standards and initiatives. Highlights include:
	2005 Conference  Wrap-Up ABI EC Recommends Immediate Data Synchronization Implementation			Ø A review of our recent ABI EC Conference Ø The importance of implementation of data synchronization in the alcohol        beverage industry Ø An opportunity to receive a complimentary copy of the official GTIN         Allocation Rules Ø A new online tool that makes it easier to manage and create bar codes
	Incorrect GTIN® Assignments Add Costs to Your Supply Chain Managing and Creating Bar Codes Just Got Easier Upcoming Events			We welcome your participation and suggestions. ABI EC membership provides you with the opportunity to build relationships with the suppliers, wholesalers, retailers, and state industry officials of the alcohol beverage industry. Your company also benefits from having a voice in determining the ABI EC Council position on bar coding, standards, and other related issues. If you’d like to share any thoughts with us, please email John Roberts, our Secretary, at jroberts@gs1us.org Look for the next ABI EC News in November. Sincerely,
	www.abiec.org			Cary Rossel Chairman, ABI EC   Vice President/CFO, Glazer’s

2005 Conference Wrap-Up

More than 100 ABI EC members joined us to make this year’s ABI EC “conference within a conference” a great success. Held in conjunction with the GS1 US™ U Connect Conference®, the event was held in Grapevine, Texas this past June.

The customized ABI EC track covered industry specific topics. In addition, our attendees had the opportunity to attend sessions on the Electronic Product Code™ (EPC), data synchronization, large retailer initiatives, Global Location Numbers (GLNs), and any of 50 additional U Connect sessions.

We also enjoyed a private, ABI EC members-only lunch networking reception and a tour of a leading ABI EC member’s warehouse. The sharing of real life experiences at the luncheon, the ABI track sessions, and the other more broad industrial sessions were available for the attendees.

Read more about the 2005 ABI EC Conference.

ABI EC Council Recommends Immediate Data Synchronization Implementation

Data synchronization is defined as the continuous harmonization of data between and among the trading partners in supply chains. Studies demonstrate that savings are achieved when data integrity issues are eliminated and the right product is ordered, purchased, delivered, invoiced, sold, and billed. In addition, the largest retailers and food distributors in the US have mandated the data synchronization process.

The ABI EC Council believes data synchronization will be the launch pad for all future global industry initiatives – Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)/Electronic Product Code™ (EPC) technology, collaborative commerce, anti-counterfeiting, and traceability. This initiative is as important as placing and scanning a Universal Product Code (U.P.C.) on a product. The Council recommends that all alcohol beverage industry trading partners have a data synchronization process or plan in place before 2005 year’s end.

To more effectively help companies realize the value of data synchronization through the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN), UCCnet® and Transora™, two leading providers of data pool services, have recently united. The new, combined company, called 1SYNC™, operates as a not-for-profit subsidiary of GS1 US™, formerly the Uniform Code Council, Inc.® (UCC®).

Find out more about 1SYNC and the benefits of data synchronization.

Incorrect GTIN® Assignments Add Costs to Your Supply Chain

Global Trade Item Numbers® (GTINs) are used to uniquely identify your products in the supply chain. A separate, unique GTIN is required whenever any of the pre-defined characteristics of an item are different in any way that is relevant to the trading process. To avoid unnecessary supply chain costs, it is essential to know when to change a product’s GTIN based on revisions to formulary, packaging, or bonus/promotion. Correct GTIN assignment is also a critical component of data synchronization.

To increase our industry’s knowledge of GTINs, ABI EC has purchased, and is distributing to its members, free of charge, official copies of the GS1 US™ GTIN Allocation Rules.

If you are an ABI EC member who has not received a copy of the GTIN Allocation Rules, request it now.

If you need additional copies, or you are not an ABI EC member, visit the GS1 US Product Catalog to order the GTIN Allocation Rules.
 

Managing and Creating Bar Codes Just Got Easier

In the wine, spirits, and beer industries, bar codes are relied upon to identify everything from eaches to logistics units to physical locations. The information contained and captured forms the backbone of a company’s supply chain. While bar coding improves critical front-end and back-end business processes, the task of creating and managing bar codes has been a technical and time-consuming challenge to many companies.

In order to streamline and simplify this effort, GS1 US™ has developed a new online tool, called Data Driver™, to make the bar coding process faster and easier. Using this tool, companies can create new bar code numbers quickly and accurately, manage existing U.P.C.-marked products that are already on the market, and create Global Location Numbers (GLNs) to be used in electronic commerce transactions.

Data Driver can be used to create numbers for inner packs, cases, pallets, mixed product cases, and mixed case pallets. No technical knowledge is required, as Data Driver provides easy step-by-step instructions to guide users throughout the process.

Learn more about Data Driver.
 

Upcoming Events

ABI EC Executive Committee Meeting

Did you know? Any ABI EC member can attend our Executive Committee Meeting, November 1-2, 2005 in Baltimore, Maryland. Join us to provide your ideas to influence the ABI EC goals and objectives for 2006.

For more information or to confirm attendance please email John Roberts at jroberts@gs1us.org 

ABI EC Sponsors Data Synchronization Web Seminar

The ABI EC Council is sponsoring a Web Seminar, providing an opportunity for the alcohol beverage industry to learn more about the business benefits of implementing data synchronization through the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN). Held in conjunction with 1SYNC™, formerly UCCnet® and Transora®, the seminar will provide an overview of what it takes to get started, what can be expected in terms of return on investment, and the next steps toward a more efficient supply chain.

Get more information and/or register.

The Joint Industry Coupon Conference

Sponsored by the Joint Industry Coupon Committee (JICC), Association of Coupon Professionals (ACP), the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), the Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA), and GS1 US™, formerly the Uniform Code Council, Inc.® (UCC®), the Joint Industry Coupon Conference is scheduled for October 3-5, 2005 at the Allerton Crowne Plaza Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. Educational programming, networking, and exhibits will be included. A State of the Industry update, coupon re-engineering, electronic clearing update, emerging technology, and coupon fraud are among the topics that will be covered.

Get more information and/or register.

Supply Chain U®

Supply Chain U, sponsored by GS1 US™, is coming to Atlanta, Georgia on October 4, 2005. This one day seminar starts with a general session where you can learn about the benefits of common data standards and how using Global Location Numbers (GLNs) and Global Trade Item Numbers® (GTINs®) can add efficiency to your supply chain. The 1SYNC™ Fundamentals track (formerly UCCnet® Fundamentals) provides in-depth sessions regarding the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) and getting started with 1SYNC Data Pool Services, which will enable your company to eliminate supply chain inefficiencies through data synchronization.

Following Supply Chain U, you are invited to attend a reception providing networking opportunities with other attendees, plus retailers and manufacturers from the 1SYNC community. Attendees are also encouraged to attend the morning session of the 1SYNC User Group Meeting on October 5th to gain valuable insight from leading manufacturers and retailers who are currently synchronizing data with trading partners.

Get more information and/or register.

2006 ABI EC Conference at U Connect

Mark your calendar and save June 6-8, 2006 for the next ABI EC “Conference within a Conference.” Join us at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee as the ABI Conference is once again held in conjunction with the GS1 US™ U Connect Conference®. Customized ABI EC sessions will be held to meet our specific needs and a multitude of other sessions will be available to further our supply chain education.

We welcome your ideas for the 2006 Conference! Email John Roberts at GS1 US at jroberts@gs1us.org

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