ALEXANDRIA, VA and COLOGNE, Germany – In line with
its plan to connect all major global data pools to its synchronization
hub, the WorldWide Retail Exchange (WWRE®), the premier
Internet-based business-to-business exchange in the CPG and
retail e-marketplace, and SINFOS GmbH, one of several leading
European data pools currently used by about 1,000 companies
in several countries, announced today an alliance to enable
connectivity between the two data pools, providing item synchronization
capabilities across the two organizations and their member
base. SINFOS and the WWRE have already established a connection
based on EAN.UCC recommendations and standards.
Due to multiple data pools and varying international standards,
manufacturers and retailers conducting international trade
are often burdened with redundant data preparation, duplication
of processes, and a need for multiple interfaces based on
global business requirements. The duplication of effort and
the need for multiple interfaces creates an inefficient process
resulting in costly bottlenecks in the global supply chain.
Now, through the connection of the WWRE and SINFOS, subscribers
from both data pools are furnished with a centralized process
to exchange item data without redundancies.
“
The SINFOS/WWRE alliance is an important step in the WWRE’s
efforts to build a global item management solution that is
inclusive of suppliers and manufacturers of all sizes. And
it’s particularly relevant for WWRE members who want
to accelerate their item management efforts with those manufacturers
who are working directly with SINFOS,” said Michel
Eeckhout, CIO, Delhaize Group.
“This partnership removes a primary barrier to international
trade – the inability to achieve global item synchronization,” said
Cindy Cruzado, Director of WorldWide Item Management for WWRE. “The
speed and success of the execution of this process also sets
a standard for future catalog implementations throughout the
world.”
“Our agreement with WWRE represents an important step
in our international strategy toward achieving interconnection
with all of the leading Internet marketplaces worldwide,” said
Rolf Stark, Chief Executive Officer for SINFOS GmbH. “By
linking WWRE’s members with SINFOS clients, we are helping
to create new trading partners, and ultimately, to expand the
international marketplace on the whole.”
About the WWRE®
The WWRE® is the premier Internet-based business-to-business
exchange for retailers and suppliers. Designed to facilitate
and simplify trading between manufacturers, retailers and suppliers,
the WWRE® currently consists of 63 members from Africa,
Asia, Europe, North America and South America with combined
sales of approximately U.S. $900 billion. To date, the WWRE® has
saved its members over $750 million through the use of online
negotiations, its first product offering. For more information,
visit the website at www.wwre.org or www.worldwideretailexchange.org.
About SINFOS
SINFOS GmbH operates the portal for item master data which
was developed originally by the German EAN Organization Centrale
für Coorganisation (CCG). Industry and trade optimize
their supply chain processes by synchronizing their item master
data not bilaterally but multilaterally via the central pool
of SINFOS GmbH. One characteristic of the SINFOS portal is
the focus on internationally standardized contents, process
rules, and functions. A major service focus has been put on
data quality assurance.
The shareholders are CCG, the EuroHandelsinstitut (EHI) representing
retailer's needs, and the German AIM member Markenverband for
the brand manufacturers. The SINFOS master data portal is currently
used by nearly 1.000 companies in Austria, Germany, and the
Netherlands - from May 2003 on as well in Finland - and allows
cross-border master data alignment according to the GCI demands
for interoperability: One Single Point of Entry for all user
companies, regardless where they are located.
For more information, visit the website at www.sinfos.de
WorldWide Retail Exchange, LLC. All rights reserved.