Having been a member of GS1’s Supervisory Board since 2007, the NHS Supply Chain has recently signed up to the GS1 UK Data Pool in order to synchronise data for 620,000 products with its suppliers.
GS1 is an independent, not for profit, global supply chain data standards and solutions organisation. It facilitates a common data set allowing an NHS partnership to drive the adoption and use of coding standards, to improve patient safety in the NHS in line with the Department of Health’s recommendations.
In addition, by standardising codes, the NHS aim to reduce the purchasing of duplicate items and incidences of paying different prices for the same item across the organisation.
The Wall Street Journal recently published an article about the use and misuse of heavy equipment fleet. All related to Asset Management and GPS tracking equipment, the article echoes many good points and examples of where and how this technology is employed, including the monitoring of over productive workers, engines that run too fast and lunches being eaten in air conditioned cabs. 
GPS technology is often only thought about for use in logistics deliveries and for large fleets of vehicles. It is however also used successfully in sales. If you have sales personnel and are not using GPS tracking, you need to find out what you are missing out on. 
According to Juniper Research, one in five smart phones will feature near field communications (NFC) by 2014. The question is, is there a future for NFC in supply chain management? 
GPS tracking does not have to be a one size fits all solution. With the need to have covert, smaller or more powerful tracking units, organisations now have technology that can be moulded around their business requirements and unique needs. As a result we have launched a consultancy service delivering bespoke GPS tracking units to clients. 
Simply Soaps, a manufacturer who has been creating natural and organic skincare for over 13 years, has joined Juniper Innovations and ISRetail in supporting The Supply Chain Carbon Council’s project, to help reduce supply chain carbon emissions.