The Supply Chain Battleground: Transparency vs. Trade Secrets

The Historical Barrier: Data Silos

For years, industries have deflected transparency demands by pointing to technical limitations. Supply chain data often resides in isolated silos, making it inherently difficult to share. However, the emergence of robust standards, particularly GS1 Digital Link and EPCIS, is dismantling this excuse. These standards create a framework for interoperability, enabling businesses to exchange supply chain data seamlessly.

The Argument for Transparency

At TrackVision, we believe that transparency is poised to win this battle. Regulatory requirements and consumer expectations are becoming too pressing to ignore. Moreover, transparency fosters trust, bolsters brand reputation, and equips businesses to respond effectively to crises.

A Balanced Approach: Transparency Without Compromise

All is not lost for those concerned about protecting sensitive information. By applying GS1 standards thoughtfully, businesses can achieve a delicate balance—sharing necessary data while safeguarding their trade secrets.

An Example in Action

Consider the FDA’s FSMA 204 regulation, which mandates batch-level traceability across supply chains. While this requires organizations to share records with trading partners, including the source provider of a batch of food, the FDA acknowledges the sensitivity of this information. To address these concerns, the regulation permits the use of internal identifiers instead of disclosing the actual identity of trading partners.

Traceability systems based on GS1 standards can facilitate this approach. By carefully configuring these systems, companies can ensure that essential data—such as batch-level traceability—is accessible while keeping sensitive information, like trading partner identities, confidential.

Conclusion

The tug-of-war between transparency and trade secrets will define the next phase of supply chain evolution. Companies that embrace transparency intelligently—leveraging standards like GS1 Digital Link and EPCIS to protect what matters most—will not only comply with regulations but also position themselves as trusted, forward-thinking leaders in their industries.