Hamburg, July 4 2018.The Travel Retail Data Innovation Group is a group formed of suppliers, retailers and the service provider 1WorldSync who are currently working on global standards to enable the automated exchange of product master data between the industry and travel retailers. The aim is to create a central and global data pool with standards for a digitized and automated data exchange.
The TRDIG, initiated by Gebr. Heinemann, invited for the first Strategy Meeting with great response: not only CEOs, IT heads and master data experts from around 35 top suppliers but also leading representatives from five different retailers from the Duty Free industry took part in the TRDIG Strategy Meeting mid-June in Hamburg. Among them were DFS, Dufry, Lagardère, Kappé and Aer Rianta as well as suppliers such as Imperial Brands, Mars, Coty, Brown Forman and Bacardi – just to name a few.
“The global approach and top management involvement is what's trail-blazing about this ‘project’”, says Kay Spanger, Executive Director Purchasing, Fulfillment and Logistics at Gebr. Heinemann, who accompanied the initiative from the beginning with great enthusiasm. "For me, it's fascinating that so many industry representatives have come together with the same goal at the TRDIG Strategy Meeting. I've never experienced that in my 39 years in the travel retail industry. All experts and decision makers used the day to make new important contacts and to exchange ideas. This is a crucial success factor for the TRDIG project."
At the podium of the TRDIG Strategy Meeting, both the driving forces of Gebr. Heinemann and representatives of the companies who are already working on the project presented their current status. Gebr. Heinemann initiated the group in February 2017 and launched the project at first with 13 suppliers and the global data pool provider 1WorldSync. Since then, the standardized attributes were set up and the first master data from suppliers have already been transferred via the data pool.
“This meeting was especially about a general commitment from all participants to start the project and a first go live with the data pool solution beginning of 2019”, says Inken Callsen, Director Fulfillment at Gebr. Heinemann. “A digital and automated exchange of data with only one interface worldwide increases data quality and reduces operational costs. In addition, high-quality master data guarantee compliance with statutory regulations within the markets for instance customs and target market specific legislations. And also omni-channel retailing with its e-commerce profits from secure and reliable product information and can thus give our customers a comprehensive image of the products.”
The representatives from DFS, Dufry and Lagardère also emphasized in their presentation the major advantages that will result from the new data pool. The optimization of master data processes is a significant topic in all companies, which is why they are all focusing to participate as partners in the TRDIG.
Furthermore, the next milestones of the project were defined: the expansion of the pool to all categories in travel retail and the enrichment of the data with item images and other marketing attributes.
“All retailers and suppliers are highly motivated and will push the project forward in their own companies with great vigour. The favourable response of the participating partners shows that we are on the right track with the global data pool. It is an important component of the global and digital alignment of the entire travel retail industry”, says Inken Callsen in conclusion.
Pressekontakt
Julia Knors
Corporate Communications Manager
Tel.: +49 40 3010 21 86
