Strategic new alliance to curb proliferation of counterfeit goods

January 21, 2021 — GS1 UAE and EVOTEQ, a UAE based digital transformation catalyst, have announced a partnership agreement to work collaboratively for the creation and deployment of best-in-class traceability solutions. The strategic new alliance is expected to address a diverse range of traceability challenges being faced by various industry verticals, including the pharmaceutical industry. The move is seen to curb the proliferation of counterfeit goods, particularly across the food and beverage industry, where the need for traceability and focus on food safety has never been stronger.

According to EVOTEQ senior officials, the two companies will be working collaboratively to identify key areas where EVOTEQ’s SmartTrack solution, a revolutionary track and trace platform that ensures product integrity in the supply chain across multiple industries, can be combined effectively with GS1 Standards and Solutions to improve supply chain security and the quality of life.

Jihad Tayara, CEO, EVOTEQ, said, “We are very optimistic about this newly formed alliance with GS1 UAE. Our SmartTrack platform, which is a GS1-compliant track and trace solution, tracks products from manufacturers to the end users. This platform was created to help ensure supply chain integrity across several industry verticals like electronics, luxury goods, drugs, soft drinks and automotive spare parts. EVOTEQ’s SmartTrack Solution will allow solving critical gaps within the lifecycle of a product while tracking its complete journey. SmartTrack plays a key role in preventing the proliferation of counterfeit items.”

A recent industry report from the OECD and the EU’s Intellectual Property Office has shown that trade of counterfeit goods is now pegged at 3.3 per cent of the total world trade and will continue to rise if not dealt with properly. Industries heavily affected by counterfeit products are footwear (22 per cent), medical equipment (5 per cent), pharmaceuticals (2 per cent) and clothing (16 per cent). Over the last few years, the UAE has been widely recognized for having one of the most active anti-counterfeiting regimes in the Middle East and African region (MEA).

“The topic of traceability is a crucial one in our region and as GS1, we support all initiatives and solutions that leverage our GS1 System of Standards.  EVOTEQ’s SmartTrack platform is industry proven and is fully compliant with GS1 standards,” concluded Rami Habbal, CEO, GS1 UAE.

About EVOTEQ:

EVOTEQ is a UAE based digital transformation catalyst that creates digitally empowered smarter societies by providing innovative and transformative solutions and platforms to governments and large enterprises across the region. The company enables its customers to improve performance, increase efficiency, and make faster and better decisions, thereby helping them to meaningfully create a positive impact on people’s lives. Working collaboratively with enterprises seeking digital transformation, EVOTEQ’s team of experts offer consulting and advisory on comprehensive strategies as well as design high-tech, advanced solutions ranging from business applications, data analytics, smart technology, AI, and blockchain.

About GS1:

GS1® is a not-for-profit organization that works with industry, for industry, providing global standards and technology-neutral services and solutions to help solve the business challenges of today and of the future. GS1 develops and maintains the most widely used global standards for efficient business communication. It is best known for the barcode, named by the BBC as one of “the 50 things that made the world economy”. GS1 standards and services improve the efficiency, safety and visibility of supply chains across physical and digital channels in 25 sectors. With offices in 115 countries, 2 million companies and 6 billion transactions every day, GS1 standards create a common language that supports systems and processes across the globe.