What is fTRACE and who operates the service?

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fTRACE is an information platform operated by GS1 Germany. Through this platform, customers can
already, at the time of shopping, use their smart phones to trace products and to access additional
information about the product, its origin and processing. The entire value chain of the product can be
clearly and credibly communicated using fTRACE. Technically, this is accomplished by
fTRACE presenting not only static data on the product itself, but also including dynamic
data for each individual batch.


How does querying data work and who is the target audience?
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A query can be made by scanning the barcode using a smartphone while out shopping. There is also
the option of retrieving the data on a computer or through a web page. The main target audience for
this information are consumers (of the value chain concerned) as well as any companies involved in
the process chain. fTRACE meets both business-to-business (B2B) as well as business-to-consumer
(B2C) information needs.


Where does the data come from and how reliable is it?
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The fTRACE system involves participants at different levels of the supply chain so that product
information, in particular dynamic information, can be provided in a monitored process and according
to specific set criteria. Data is generally made available on the fTRACE platform (trusted source of
data) by the partner responsible for the relevant traceability event. Semantic and syntactic tests as
well as plausibility routines are performed in order to assist the data suppliers in entering reliable
data. There are further agreements and routines to ensure data reliability according to industry sector.


What other benefits does fTRACE offer?
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In addition to fulfilling the legal "minimum" traceability requirement, fTRACE offers raw material
suppliers, manufacturers and brand owners room for more transparency and provides information
about the product and the company's performance. fTRACE partners profit especially from becoming
users at an early stage (early adopters) as this can help them gain a competitive advantage. From the
consumers' perspective, the tool helps them better understand and evaluate a product's origin and
specific properties. In addition to transparency, value is also added through the provision of
supplementary product-specific information. This could include details about the species and fishing
method, recipes, allergens, and processing instructions.


What are the key features of fTRACE?
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1. Each partner supplies the system with just his data. Decentralised data collection and
administration avoids data redundancy, reduces complexity and lowers costs.
Supplier information
...
2. Small and medium-sized companies can simply enter information on a web page using a
browser. Larger companies benefit from the ability to deliver data automatically or to store it on
their own servers and retrieve it using standardised interfaces.
3. A data supplier can grant downstream or upstream partners direct read access to his data. This
eliminates costly individual reporting of the traceability data required by law.
4. Data is accessed by scanning, using a smartphone or by manually entering the article ID (GTIN
and lot number) on a web page.
5. The solution architecture guarantees scalability in terms of the partners, the number of
transactions and the industry.
6. The fTRACE service acts as a traceability and marketing information platform, data search
service and service provider for companies with limited or even no IT infrastructure.

What kind of data is to communicate along the meat supply chain?
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Information Data field
Location of farm (area code and /or regions) X
Location of slaughterhause X
Location of deboning X
Date of slaughter X
Date of deboning X
Name of farmer optional
Name of slaugterhause X
Name of deboning company X
Best before date optional
Volumes/quantity optional
GTIN raw material X
LOT code raw material X




...
How to communicate?
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There are two ways of communicating these data:

1. Via Data Entry Website
2. Via Webservice

GS1 Germany will make a webinar with you to introduce and show you how to implement one of
these two ways. A third possibility exists as well by storing data within your own server but granting
access to those data via a standardized EPCIS Interface.








What is the timeline for sending first batch individual data?
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Onboarding Data Supplier Producer/Brand Owner

ToDo's/Milestone time required

Optional: First information (Overview Webinar) 1 h
Delivery of contractual documents, NDA ./.
Return of NDA, contract signed at the latest at GoLive

Implementation start ./.
Decision on General Set up
- Barcode Option
- Traceability Events
- Data capture option 3 days
Webinar Data entry /Data request websites 1,5 h
If Data capture of dynamic data is organised manually (via data entry websites):
Production test barcodes 1 week
Testing phase Data Entry Website 1 week

Approval Barcode / packaging material 3 days
Final Call prior to GoLive date 1 h
Earliest GoLive date
If Data capture of dynamic data is organised automatically (machine to
machine):

Training/coordination Web-Service 1/2 day
Internal interface implementation (1. week) 1 week
Production test barcodes 1 week

Approval Barcode / packaging material 3 days
Internal interface implementation (2. week) 1 week

Testing phase Data capture via Web-Servlet 1 week
Final coordination/Approval of dynamic data records 1/2 day
Final Call prior to GoLive date 1 h
Earliest GoLive date

Further information & contact
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See www.ftrace.com
Holger Wahl, GS1 Germany, E-Mail: wahl@gs1-germany.de Tel. +49 (0) 221 94714 336
Patrik Rothe, GS1 Germany, E-Mail: rothe@gs1-germany.de Tel. +49 (0) 221 94714 337

Mark Zwingmann, GS1 Germany, E-Mail: zwingmann@gs1-germany.de Tel. +49 (0) 221 94714 326