Why “Global Standards” Are Not a Magic Wand (But Still Worth the Effort)

So, you’re diving into traceability—maybe to boost efficiency, meet compliance, or finally get a grip on your supply chain spaghetti. You’ve read the articles, heard the pitches, and maybe even sat through a vendor webinar or two. And now you’re wondering:

“Do global standards actually matter?”

Short answer: Yes.
Longer answer: Yes, but only if your trading partners use them properly. And that’s a big if.

The Traceability Mirage

Let’s start with the dream—the “utopian supply chain.”
This is the world where all trading partners use global standards (GS1, ISO,CEN, etc.) exactly as intended. Every GTIN is perfect. Every EPCIS message is complete. Every case and pallet is labeled and logged in precise harmony across the network.

It’s beautiful. It’s elegant. It’s also almost never real.

In my GS1 days, we loved this vision. But it assumes everyone did the hard work—perfect processes, clean data, cooperative partners, flawless tech integration. That’s not just wishful thinking. That’s fantasy league supply chain.

Reality Bites: Standards ≠ Interoperability

Here’s the rub: using a standard doesn’t mean you're interoperable.
Healthcare companies know this. They’ve had to hire full-time staff just to troubleshoot EPCIS message issues for DSCSA compliance.
Fresh food and CPG players wrestling with EDI errors? Same story.

This isn’t a standards problem. It’s an adoption problem.

So, while the whitepapers gush about “data quality” and“ resilience,” few talk about what it really takes to make traceability work between partners who—let’s face it—might all be doing their own thing.

The Advantage of Reality-Based Expertise

You don’t need a fantasy system. You need smart people who know how to work in the real world—where standards are bent, legacy systems linger, and projects get messy.

What does that kind of expertise look like?

• Deep     experience with the business and tech sides of data capture and sharing
• Clear     understanding of supply chain complexity—raw materials to consumer
• Creative     problem-solving when ideal isn’t possible (hint: it’s rarely possible)
• Supplier     engagement savvy—because traceability is a team sport
• Applied     AIDC knowledge—how to actually label, code, and identify things

In short, you need someone who can translate theory into action. Someone who helps you make progress—not just give you another standards checklist.

Real Benefits (Not Just Buzzwords)

What do our clients gain from this pragmatic approach?

• Clarity:     We separate signal from noise. Know what’s required, what’s optional, and     what’s just fluff.
• Confidence:     Choose the right investments and pathways for traceability that fit your     business.
• Efficiency:     Find real cost-saving opportunities—in inventory, logistics, and supplier     performance.
• Trust:     Build stronger customer relationships through tailored, transparent supply     chain data.

And yes, there’s a real payoff. We’ve assessed over a dozen food companies in the past year. The potential for improvement is everywhere—and much of it hinges on using global standards properly.

A Final Word on Interoperability

Even the former CEO of GS1 once asked me, “When will we really have supply chain interoperability?”
I told him, “GS1 already enables it. The issue is that companies don’t adopt standards as designed.”

Every ERP is different. Every company customizes. Standards, after all, are a compromise. So achieving true interoperability? That’s not about installing a standard. It’s about navigating the messy middle—and doing it well.

Bottom line:
Don’t chase the utopia. Work with people who know how to build real, working solutions in the wild.

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