UCC to merge with Transora

The Uniform Code Council, Inc. (UCC), soon to be known as GS1 US, and Transora have agreed in principle to unite their operations, business strategies and vision to form a single organization dedicated to data synchronization. Once approved, the new organization would be a subsidiary of UCC. The shared vision is to leverage the strengths of the two organizations by assisting retailers and manufacturers to more quickly realize the value of data synchronization.

UCCnet was founded in 1999 to help retailers and suppliers more easily share information about products. Transora was founded in 2000 by leading consumer products manufacturers. Formation of the new company is subject to the signing of a definitive agreement and approval by the boards of directors of both companies and the shareholders of Transora. Current Transora CEO Bob Noe would serve as CEO of the new company.

The new organization would bring together an experienced team of data implementation experts and a technology platform for data synchronization services, representing more than 4,500 consumer products companies and many of the world’s leading retail organizations.

According to Miguel Lopera, CEO of GS1 and UCC, “The proposed unification of these two organizations will represent an important milestone in the ongoing development of globally interoperable standards that will support the deployment of the GDSN and EPCglobal Network for our subscribers.”

Data that is accurate and synchronized among multiple trading partners is a cornerstone in the vision of the GDSN and the GS1 Global Registry, a single source location for suppliers and manufactures to share and synchronize static data around the world. It is expected the combined organization would help accelerate adoption and usage of the GDSN worldwide.

Further, EPC technologies and the EPCglobal Network will complement static data with real-time information about items as they move through the supply chain. When combined, data synchronization and EPC technologies will enable companies to be more efficient and will allow them to deliver business and consumer benefits such as safer drugs, fresher produce and virtually eliminate theft and counterfeiting in the supply chain.

The new organization would have operations in the U.S., Europe, Mexico and South America and would represent subscribers from leading retailers and manufacturers, including: Wal-Mart, Wegmans, SuperValu, PepBoys, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Gillette, Hormel Foods, Coca-Cola, Colgate Palmolive, Sara Lee, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, Kraft, and Johnson & Johnson, among others.

www.GS1US.org

www.transora.com

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