Smart solution for sharing digital assets in your supply chain

Developed in collaboration with industry, GS1 Australia’s SmartMedia is a multisector solution for managing and sharing up-to-date and authenticated images, multimedia files and other product-related digital assets and data with trading partners. It allows trading partners to access all digital assets in one location, saving time and money, and improving accuracy.

SmartMedia is easy to use as it is fully integrated with GS1net and other GS1 Australia services as part of the supply chain process.

Delivering rich functionality, at minimal costs, the solution is applicable in both large and small companies. It also provides consumers with a great shopping experience by giving them instant access to engaging digital content about products.

The advent of online has fundamentally changed shopping

The online revolution has transformed the shopping landscape forever. To succeed in the online world, brands and retailers need shoppers to access not only rich product content, but visually engaging experiences that can assist in the selection and buying process.

In the new retail marketplace, accessibility to product information, product images and other product-related digital content is a survival necessity. Consumers and trading partners expect this information to be readily available, always up to date and authentic.

Brand owners face the challenge of having to support different channels and processes to distribute product images and specifications to trading partners, media outlets, other third parties and even their own internal sales force, creating duplication of effort, low quality and high costs.

The SmartMedia initiative can help businesses meet this online revolution challenge by providing a single source of multimedia and digital assets to share with trading partners.

It is the ideal, low-cost, standards-based industry solution for storing, managing and sharing authenticated, multimedia content. Businesses also have the option of loading content either directly, via third-party solution providers or through the GS1 Photography Service.

The big players are already onboard

Many buying organisations, including Woolworths, Coles, Metcash as well as Bidvest, NAFDA, Ausfec Limited, FoodTraders, OfficeMax, Staples, Office National, HealthShare NSW and SP Health, are now using GS1 Australia’s SmartMedia service to automatically access authenticated product images and related digital content from their suppliers.

“Our SmartMedia service is an exciting initiative that will help businesses face the challenges of today’s online revolution by providing a single source of visually engaging multimedia and digital assets for the production of printed collateral, websites, point-of-sale (POS), mobile apps and general promotional use,” said Maria Palazzolo, CEO at GS1 Australia.

As well as major retailers, many leading FMCG and healthcare suppliers, including Colgate-Palmolive, Mars, Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, Simplot, 3M, Cerebos and Unilever, are using SmartMedia as their main solution for the management and sharing of product content and digital assets. One of the benefits these companies have identified is having the option to provide content themselves, via third parties or GS1.

What are the benefits?

Businesses can use SmartMedia as a central internal registry (intranet) of digital assets across different departments.  SmartMedia will also enable companies to provide product images for use across other GS1 services, including GS1net.

1. Reduced time to market

• Reduction of up to one week in the creation of printed catalogues
• Content is always up to date through automation tools
• Image validation to GS1 standards reduces rejection, revisions and delays
• Easy access to product images and digital assets
• A single sharing system to meet the needs of all trading partners in Australia and New Zealand

2. Increased efficiency

• Standardised image formats for all clients
• Basic product information (aligned with GS1 standards)
• Extended product information available, based on item classification
• Ability to customise product data to meet company-specific needs
• Product data integration with GS1net to avoid duplication
• System-to-system integration for uploading and maintaining data and media files

3. Cost savings

• A whole-of-industry solution, supported by key retailers across sectors
• A single fee for unlimited usage, images, product records and users
• A single fee across Australia and New Zealand
• Discounted access to GS1net users
• Integrated with GS1 Barcode Testing and GS1 Photography Service

An integrated approach

SmartMedia works in complete unison with other GS1 Australia services to ensure standardisation, decrease duplication and maximise savings.

GS1net users, for example, will reap the benefits from a fully integrated approach to product data. As products are added, updated or end-dated in GS1net, SmartMedia will automatically reflect these changes, saving time and effort in the management of the system. SmartMedia also enables other GS1 Australia services, such as GoScan and Recallnet, to access up-to-date product images and specifications from a user’s SmartMedia catalogue.

All brand owners using the GS1 Barcode Testing Service are able to access barcode verification reports automatically via their SmartMedia account.

Companies that choose to extend the GS1 Barcode Testing Service to include product imagery via the GS1 Photography Service will not only save on photography costs, but will also have all product images automatically uploaded into SmartMedia, ready to be shared with trading partners.

To support the exponential growth in the adoption of SmartMedia and the associated demand for photography for the management of digital assets, GS1 Australia has enhanced its GS1 Photography Service to include 3D and 360° photography options and label data collection.

SmartMedia is not only an efficient instrument for cataloguing and sharing product content, it is also a powerful sales tool that can assist any salesforce in the market. Optimised display on tablets and mobile devices equips sales and marketing teams with the ability to showcase product ranges, images, videos, collateral and other promotional material with ease and on the go.