eCom Group - Harmonizing electronic communication across Europe

Aim         Scope           Projects and activities          Related projects          Contacts 

Aim
The GS1 in Europe eCom Group is the joint European platform for electronic message implementation topics. The eCom Group of GS1 in Europe is responsible for the coordination of all activities regarding eBusiness in Europe. The aim is to help user companies to exchange business data across European countries and fostering European trade relations.

The eCom Group also aims to create a strong and joint representation towards the GSMP, UN/CEFACT, CEN, the EU Commission, European associations and interest groups. The co-ordination of the group will be lead by the eCom Leadership Team.

Scope
The scope of the activities of the eCom Group and the eCom Leadership Team is divided in four areas:

• The Co-ordination:
GS1 in Europe eCom Leadership Team coordinates European eCom Projects and is the communication linking pin with the GS1 in Europe eCom Group. It advises the REC on eCom issues from a European perspective.

• Representation:
The eCom Leadership Team has also the role to provide the platform to create a common voice towards the GSMP, UN/CEFACT, CEN, the EU Commission, and European associations and interest groups.

• EANCOM Maintenance:
One of the core activities of the eCom Group are the harmonised European guidelines for EANCOM® (currently INVOIC, ORDERS and DESADV).

• Support:
In order to support global developments from a European eCom perspective, also projects of particular interest a directly supported. Currently this is taking place in order to develop the UN/CEFACT messages to support GS1 in Europe activities in the field of Public eProcurement.


Projects and Activities

EANCOM® Harmonisation
The harmonized EANCOM Guidelines, eEurope, were created in order to eliminate discrepancies in EANCOM implementations in Europe. With a focus on FMCG as core sector of GS1 harmonised Guidelines are provided currently for ORDERS, DESADV and INVOIC.

These guidelines serve as reference for national guidelines with the aim to have the same definition and mapping for the same business requirement, additionally the guidelines may also be used by companies directly. The Guidelines can be accessed through the eCom project zone or contact your local GS1 in Europe member organisation.

UN/CEFACT
As the future basis for GS1 XML the involvement of GS1 in UN/CEFACT development is of high importance for GS1 in Europe. These activities are coordinated on European level, also towards GS1 Global Office. The current status of UN/CEFACT work, especially of TBG1, responsible for Supply Chain, can be found  here!

By using this recommendation, added value is offered to the buyer/retailer in the ability to issue an order ; alternatively, the supplier/seller is able to receive orders from a supplier/seller in any of the participating European countries, by using the common European profile. In addition, the eOrder recommendation is an important information resource as to how the EANCOM^® ORDERS is applied in the various European countries.

GS1 in Europe eCom Implementation Strategy
Based in the GS1 global eCom strategy, the European eCom strategy aims to give guidance on the implementation of GS1 eCom standards in Europe and define a clear roadmap for the future. The aim is to reduce inconsistencies in implementation and to provide one face to the users of the GS1 system in Europe. The European eCom strategy is currently under development and will be finished during 2009.

Related projects

eGovernment
eGovernment activities of GS1 in Europe also include eCom topics, especially within the field of eProcurement. Therefore there is strong link between these activities.

DACEI
One major part of the activities within the consumer electronics sector of GS1 in Europe is to provide the relevant guidelines for transactional messages. These messages will be based on the existing harmonised messages.

eInvoice Implementation Pilot
Within this GS1 in Europe a pilot will be set up between two user companies in order to send invoice messages across European countries, based on the harmonised eINVOIC profile.

Contacts

eCom Leadership Team:

Natascha Pottier, GS1 France
natascha.pottier@gs1fr.org

Klaus Förderer, GS1 Germany
foerderer@gs1-germany.de

Douglas Hill, GS1 Denmark
dsh@gs1.dk

Coen Janssen, GS1 Netherlands
coen.janssen@gs1.nl

For more interesting implementation of GS1 Standards please visit GS1 Dox!