Ambrosus, a blockchain and IoT platform for quality assurance in food and pharmaceutical supply chains, has announced that its blockchain based network, AMB-NET, is now fully compatible and integrated with GS1 Digital Link, a leading global standard from supply chain standards organization GS1. With this new capability, Ambrosus joins a highly selective group of industry pioneers in supporting and building the future of supply chains and enhancing product traceability and transparency for consumers.
By adopting the GS1 Digital Link mechanism, Ambrosus will let consumers access various forms of information about a product through a QR code. Digital Link enables consumers to easily engage with products on the shelf via mobile scanning, and access information including batch numbers, serial numbers, and product origins. For the Ambrosus ecosystem, GS1 Digital Link compatibility means that a custom web address (URL) is automatically generated for every product stored on AMB-NET, a development that facilitates the efficient identification of individual products in the supply chain.
“Outdated product identification methods prevent different parties in the supply chain from ascertaining the origins and quality of products. As one of the most significant GS1 standards developed in over two decades, Digital Link is specifically designed to augment and eventually replace one-dimensional barcodes that are now commonly used. By integrating the GS1 Digital Link with Ambrosus, we can now make this vital information easily available to consumers and realize our vision of bringing the benefits of decentralization to every rung on the supply chain, right down to consumers at the checkout.”
In an advancement from ‘Barcoding’, GS1 Digital Link Standards are concentrated on the next level of consumer interaction. By using a QR code containing a serialized URL, companies can now engage with one another and their end-consumers through smartphone scanning to access information such as product origins, loyalty programs, and discounts. Meanwhile, as barcodes are only accessible with specialized machines, in a closed system, Digital Link effectively democratizes product verification standards to any interested consumer, enabling Ambrosus to increase transparency in the supply chain.
“With Ambrosus now supporting the GS1 Digital Link Standard, we will be able to significantly improve customer experience through ease of access to product information, while also maximizing business efficiency for companies tracing and transacting products. Simplifying this identification system can benefit retailers, producers, and consumers alike by facilitating access to a specific batch of pharmaceutical products or foodstuffs in the event of a recall, for example.”
For Ambrosus, compatibility with GS1 Digital Link is a major enhancement to the quality and value that AMB-NET provides to businesses keen to embrace digital innovation. Following the release of the new standard from GS1, Ambrosus has become one of the first blockchain networks to offer an integrated blockchain and IoT solution for companies to effectively track, trace and market their products to end consumers, at no additional cost.
