Garden centres flourish with the GS1 data pool

NDT International in Gendt, Gelderland, supplies a wide range of flower pots to GRS Retail, which supports around 150 garden centres in the Netherlands and Belgium with purchasing and other commercial services from its base in Boskoop. "NDT is really a forerunner in getting all product data in order," says Sander Heerkens, data management employee at GRS. "NDT supplies about 2400 different products to garden centres for which we work. All relevant data and information about it is now available in good quality in the GS1 data pool. A top performance, that's for sure!"

Birgit Fransen, commercial office employee at NDT International, is happy to accept the compliment. "It took a lot of work to collect all the data and product information and enter it into the data pool in the right way," she says. "But we more than recoup the investment in time and capacity because we no longer have to supply product data for each retailer separately in different ways."

Start on time and start small

GS1 Nederland advises suppliers with a large product range, which changes frequently and for which a lot of commercial information is needed to hire a solution partner for support. "If you have a smaller or less complex range, you can also enter the data via the web interface of the GS1 data pool," says Sander. "Extra support is certainly needed for very large players, but NDT has managed to do it well itself."

"Fortunately, I'm handy with Excel, which makes a difference," Birgit responds. "In addition, I already started collecting data this summer. After I entered the data, it was sent to GRS to check that everything is in order."

No matter how large the assortment is, start on time and start small, Sander advises. "Take your time and don't underestimate the work. And start on a small scale. So, for example, if you have a thousand items in your assortment, provide the complete data of five to ten products initially. That's how we did it with NDT. Then you can do the data entry for the other products right away based on the retailer's feedback on the first five to ten products. That way, you don't run the risk of having to redo all the thousand items."

Keeping in touch with retail

Of the approximately 160 suppliers who supply items such as flower pots, tools or garden materials to our affiliated garden centres, most of them have a connection to the GS1 data pool, according to Sander. But that does not mean that they are all making rapid progress. "Some have not yet entered product data, others are working on it but are still lagging behind in quality. And you have forerunners like NDT who have now done it," he says.

By sharing tips and advice, Sander hopes that NDT's good example will inspire other suppliers. In that respect, Birgit has some advice. "In addition to starting on time and not underestimating this process, it's important to involve as many people as possible within your organization," she says. "Ask for help if it gets too much and prepare as much as you can. For example, which product photos or instructional videos you have available. It is also very important to keep in touch with retailers to check whether you are providing the correct product information."

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By sharing tips and advice, Sander hopes that NDT's good example will inspire other suppliers. In that respect, Birgit has some advice. "In addition to starting on time and not underestimating this process, it's important to involve as many people as possible within your organization," she says. "Ask for help if it gets too much and prepare as much as you can. For example, which product photos or instructional videos you have available. It is also very important to keep in touch with retailers to check whether you are providing the correct product information."

Proin ac hendrerit dui. Aliquam dapibus vulputate lectus. Phasellus et finibus lorem. Duis vitae ultricies lacus, ac aliquam purus. Praesent viverra est sed neque maximus, vitae porta sem viverra. Integer dapibus vitae lectus quis aliquam. Suspendisse accumsan ipsum ac nulla ultricies elementum. Proin ac hendrerit dui. Aliquam dapibus vulputate lectus. Phasellus et finibus lorem. Aliquam faucibus nec mauris vitae fermentum. Donec ullamcorper mauris sed lorem facilisis, commodo tincidunt ipsum convallis. Proin ac hendrerit dui. Aliquam dapibus vulputate lectus. Phasellus et finibus lorem.

Sander also finds this extremely important. "We have a team of five people who are in regular contact with suppliers to get the data in order in the GS1 data pool. During this process, we also work together to continuously improve data quality. I advise suppliers to consult the GS1 knowledge base, which contains a lot of information about the correct entry of product data and the operation of the online interface that is available for this. In addition, GS1 regularly organizes webinars in which they share important information and tips."

Benefits for online and logistics

While time savings and efficiency are major advantages for suppliers, retail is particularly interested in reliable and available product data. "This helps us in particular in the development of webshops," says Sander. "Huge leaps have been made there in recent years, but there is still room for improvement. If we can easily retrieve all data from one reliable source, we can speed up online development even more. By knowing the exact dimensions, it also provides advantages in the logistics process, you can make more accurate planograms and implement changes more quickly."

Don't let your attention wane

NDT now has it in order, but according to Birgit, that does not mean that the focus on product data is weakening. On the contrary. "If new items come in, or if, for example, six items are delivered in an outer box instead of four, you have to adjust that data immediately in the system," she says. "Do it right away. Don't wait, or you might forget."

And the consumer? What does this process improvement notice? "Customers in stores and webshops experience more and more complete product information," says Sander. "Information about landscaping and maintenance, about the flowering season and about the use of all kinds of products. If you have data and images quickly and easily available to garden centres, they can better provide their customers. That increases the turnover rate and it ensures a thriving business."

Would you like to know more about the GS1 data pool in the garden and animals? Check out our knowledge base