“30 years of public-private partnerships which have shaped the retail sector”

• “We wish for all operators and SMEs to be part of GS1”

Dr. Drishty Ramdenee, CEO of GS1 and Secretary General of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) highlighted the history, global impact, and future trajectory of GS1. He emphasized the significance of compliance and interoperability in modern retail and distribution, and also introduced the Sunrise 2027 strategy, showcasing the transition to 2D barcodes and the potential for international branding, setting the stage for future innovation and economic growth.

In a presentation during the 30th anniversary celebrations of GS1 Mauritius and Mauritius Network Services (MNS), Dr. Drishty Ramdenee, CEO of GS1 and Secretary General of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), shed light on the pivotal role of GS1 standards in shaping the modern retail and distribution landscape in Mauritius. Dr. Ramdenee provided an insightful overview of GS1’s history, its global impact, and its future trajectory.

“Many people, though they are using GS1, they don’t know what GS1 is,” Dr. Ramdenee began. He explained that the ubiquitous barcodes seen in supermarkets worldwide are, in fact, GS1 barcodes. “In a simple word, when you go to the supermarket, and you have a barcode that beeps, this is a GS1 barcode,” he clarified. However, behind this simple technology lie a rich history and a critical need for compliance and interoperability.

GS1’s journey began with the European Immigration Notation System, which evolved into GS1 standards. “The principle behind that has always been set with regard to compliance, inter-operational ability, and the capacity for different systems to talk to each other,” Dr. Ramdenee highlighted. The GS1 standard ensures that products are recognized on an international platform, providing a gauge of international compliance and immense opportunities for global trade.

The Historical Context and Economic Impact

He shared a historical perspective on GS1’s introduction to Mauritius. “In 1994, GS1 coincided with the coming of the first hypermarket, ‘Continent’,” the CEO of GS1 noted. The MCCI negotiated to secure the license for GS1, foreseeing its potential to serve Mauritius. Today, GS1 connects retail with distribution and producers, with over 3,000 operators in its database, demonstrating its profound impact on the Mauritian economy.

As the world progresses and becomes more complex, the need for efficient and interoperable systems like GS1 becomes even more critical. Dr. Ramdenee emphasized the importance of including all operators, especially SMEs, in the GS1 ecosystem. “We wish for all operators and SMEs to be part of GS1,” he stated.

It has been 30 years of compliance, 30 years of hard work, and 30 years of public-private partnerships and efforts which have forged the Mauritian economic landscape, shaped the retail sector as we know it today, and consolidated the digital island strategy of Mauritius

 

The Sunrise 2027 Strategy: Embracing 2D Technology

Beyond retail and distribution, GS1 has immense potential in other sectors, including finance and healthcare. Looking ahead, GS1 Global is moving towards 2D barcodes, enabling the embedding of more data in a single system. “When you see international trade, there are lots of things happening. Digital passporting is becoming a requirement for compliance and ESG requirements to be integrated,” Dr. Ramdenee explained. 

The Sunrise 2027 strategy aims to incorporate these requirements, creating a digital passport for international trade, and potentially embedding international branding within the 2D barcode.

“It has been 30 years of compliance, 30 years of hard work, and 30 years of public-private partnerships and efforts which have forged the Mauritian economic landscape, shaped the retail sector as we know it today, and consolidated the digital island strategy of Mauritius,” he remarked.

As GS1 and MNS look forward to the next 30 years, Dr. Ramdenee expressed a vision of continued innovation and international outlook. “We wish to take you further for 30 years of innovation and international outlook for GS1 and MNS,” he concluded, inviting stakeholders to join in the journey towards a future filled with technological promises and potential.