Background

GS1 Upstream Integration is the GS1 Solution to address the challenges in the Supply Chain Integration between manufacturers and their suppliers. Upstream Integration is about improving the processes by sharing information and improving visibility of demand, demand changes and inventory. This will increase responsiveness to the manufacturing requirements and ultimately to the final consumers.

The market has changed: there are more and more products available for the consumers but also often in smaller quantities. The time between design and delivery to final consumer is expected to be shorter and shorter. This puts pressure on the upstream part of the supply chain and explains the need for integration, more reliability of the information flow and visibility of the physical flow. This is specifically true in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Industry. The Global Upstream Supply Initiative (GUSI) was formed to address these challenges as shown below.