GTIN
Colloquially, many know GTIN as a barcode, but technically, GTIN is the number found beneath the barcode symbol itself, and can therefore also be used for other technologies such as 2D barcodes and RFID tags.
Colloquially, many know GTIN as a barcode, but technically, GTIN is the number found beneath the barcode symbol itself, and can therefore also be used for other technologies such as 2D barcodes and RFID tags.
Dutch hospitals have moved away from exchanging product master data via Excel spreadsheets to using a single, standardized method. This has simplified daily life for both suppliers and hospitals, while also improving data quality and reducing time spent on both sides.
In the Netherlands, medical device suppliers and hospitals have joined forces to standardize and automate the exchange of product information for medical devices. They have agreed to use a uniform dataset consisting of 37 data fields, and for data to be delivered and received via the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN), a globally standardized data exchange platform. This saves time because suppliers no longer need to use one method and dataset for recipient A and a different method and dataset for recipient B. The recipient automatically receives the data, which reduces manual work and ensures higher data quality.
Read more on the GS1 Netherlands website
We can learn a lot in Denmark from all the positive processes implemented in the Netherlands to deliver data in a globally standardized way.
When a manufacturer supplies data to Danish hospitals, it is currently done in a non-standardized way, often via Excel. This means that if a manufacturer supplies products to all five regions, they must send product master data to each individual region. This is time-consuming. And if the product information is updated, every region must be notified of the update.
Furthermore, there is variation in the information requested by each region, meaning you cannot simply send the same file used for one region to another. By switching to data delivery via GDSN, you would only need to provide one set of data, and there would be only one place to update that information.
A globally standardized method for exchanging product master data would bring a number of benefits to both Danish regions and manufacturers. Two of the most important advantages are time savings and higher data quality.
Exchanging a product's master data can be time-consuming, and the requirements faced by suppliers can vary significantly depending on who they are supplying. An automated and standardized solution, rather than individual Excel spreadsheets and PDF files, therefore offers many advantages for both sender and recipient.
- The somewhat time-consuming and rather outdated way of exchanging information, which is still practiced at many Danish hospitals today, hinders development and increases the workload at the hospitals. Too much time is spent on manual processes, taking time away from the many other important tasks performed at Danish hospitals, says Anne Marie Lei, Head of Public & Healthcare at GS1 Denmark.
Those involved in the project describe how using the dataset benefits all parties through time savings and cost reductions, while contributing to increased patient safety, which is the ultimate goal. Ultimately, the clearer and higher-quality the data available, the more efficiently processes can run in a healthcare system, and the less work there is for suppliers.
- It is great to see that GS1 standards are making a difference in the Netherlands, and Denmark can truly learn from how they do things. We are similar to the Netherlands in many areas, so it is obvious that we should learn from their success. This includes starting to standardize working methods and workflows in Danish hospitals and regions. It is a clear choice when we look at the money a hospital can save and how much efficiency and patient safety are increased, says Anne Marie Lei.
If you would like to learn more about how you can use a Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) to receive or send product information, please contact us at info@gs1.dk.
Read more about the Dutch case
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GTIN (also known as EAN) stands for “Global Trade Item Number” and is the number sequence shown beneath a barcode symbol.
GTIN (EAN) is a global standard used to uniquely identify digital and physical products, allowing the barcode to be scanned anywhere in the world throughout the supply chain.
A GLN (also known as EAN) allows you to uniquely identify physical, functional, legal, or digital entities. This can include the sender, receiver, buyer, seller, supplier, manufacturer, delivery location, billing location, store, or internal departments.
