GS1 EPCglobal-Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

The Future for Supply Chains

The Electronic Product Code or EPC is the GS1 numbering standard for radio frequency identification – EPC/RFID is seen by many commentators as the future for supply chain management and traceability!

Based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), this technology opens new horizons for organisations to capture, store, retrieve and exchange data both within the business and between all supply chain partners, providing enormous potential benefits to consumers and society as a whole. EPC provides a simple 'licence plate' for products, services and other items that can be tracked and traced using RFID technology.

As well as Global Trade Identification Numbers (GTINs), Global Location Numbers (GLN) and other common GS1 identifiers, EPC numbers include a serialisation component that can identify each 'instance' of a product or item eg: a can of coke or individual farm animal. It puts a whole new level of visibility, traceability and possibility into the global supply chain. 

Business Sense

The EPC standards have a broad range of applications for implementation in any industry sector. These include more detailed and accurate information on products providing improved customer service, enhanced inventory management and replenishment practices (providing opportunities for fewer out of stocks and lost sales).

Many retailers and FMCG enterprises think about a 'one-of-a-kind' product identifier as an opportunity to assist them reduce theft and fight counterfeit goods. The use cases for EPC technology are many and varied and new applications are being tried and tested continuously around the world every day.

Key benefits include:

• Minimising shrinkage, out-of-stocks and product shortages
• Accelerating more accurate order processing
• Increasing responsiveness to consumer demand
• More efficient and accurate handling of items in the supply chain

Safe and Secure Information

As with any network, security is an important part of the EPCglobal Network. The EPCglobal Network uses industry-recognized best practices to protect data, information and privacy. It functions like an extranet where the data lives behind a subscriber company's firewall and can only be referenced from the outside by the data registry system at EPCglobal.

Find out more in the EPCGlobal Tools and Resources section

EPC/RFID Expertise in New Zealand

GS1 New Zealand has world-class RFID technical and implementation expertise using EPC standards. GS1 New Zealand has undertaken a number of leading edge RFID implementations both in New Zealand and internationally and is globally recognised as one the most innovative GS1 member organisations in this field of technology.

The Zealand RFID Code of Practice for Retail

GS1 New Zealand was instrumental in leading the development of the New Zealand EPC/RFID Code of Practise for retail environments. The process was facilitated for GS1 New Zealand by Standards New Zealand and involved a number of leading New Zealand companies and organisations.

• Click here to download the New Zealand RFID Code of Practice

Join EPCglobal in New Zealand

• EPCglobal New Zealand Application for Subscription
• Join an EPCglobal Action or Working Group
• EPCglobal New Zealand Intellectual Property Policy
• EPCglobal New Zealand IP Q&A

EPCglobal is a subscriber-driven organisation with a wide membership focused on developing and maintaining the EPCglobal Network.

* Please note - new subscription fees dated June 2006, supersede the fees outlined in the application for subscription form. Please contact gary.hartley@gs1nz.org for the amended subscription fees and for more information on joining EPCglobal New Zealand.