A quick read on the basics of GDSN MR3 update – deadlines, why it matters to Consumer Goods / Medical Device manufacturers, Retailers and Distributors. Visit for more info : http://www.riversand.com

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MR3 READINESS CHEAT SHEET
A quick read on the basics of GDSN
MR3 update – deadlines, why it
matters to Consumer Goods / Medical
Device manufacturers, Retailers and
Distributors
GDSN MR3 Basics
The Global Data Synchronization NetworkTM (GDSN) is a global standard of documents used
to exchange product related information using data pools (1World Sync is the largest and
widely adopted with more than 20 million items from over 17000 brands) as the gateway to
syndicate product information to and from trading partners.
Major Release 3 (MR3) is the first major
release to the standards in over 10 years
represents a refresh that allows the data pools
to support the demands of the digital age for
more product information and digital assets.
These include regulatory mandates like the
Food and Drug Authority’s (FDA) Unique
Device ID (UDI) or the European EU1169
mandate or much needed flexibility,
extensibility and control over the data
elements, rules and validations involved to
industry specific support and data quality
controls to simplify exchanging product risk
information.
Given the depth and breadth of changes that
are involved in MR3 – this update is not
backward compatible – meaning come May 11th 2016 if you were using a GDSN data pool to
syndicate information to publish or subscribe for product information with your trading
partners you would not be able to do so unless you update your systems, processes and data
to adhere to the revisions specified as part of MR3. If you haven’t yet adopted the GDSN
standards to share product information with your trading partners now is the best time to
look at it has never been easier to do so with the flexibility, extensibility and support for
several regulations / mandates like FDA UDI, EU1169 or IMDRF.

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Key Highlights & Timelines
We could point you to the document center at 1WorldSync which gives you in-depth
checklists and related artifacts to determine what has changed for you in detail – but then
this wouldn’t be a cheatsheet would it? So in keeping with our promise to make this read
worth you while here are the key highlights:
 Enhancements to existing attributes and data model; including nutrients, ingredients,
allergens, tax, hazardous materials, promotional, packaging and many others
o around 40% or 1182 total GDSN attribute set is impacted – primarily from Core
attributes to Flex
o 300 new, 652 changed and 230 deprecated
 Added/Updated multiple code lists (new lists, consolidations, etc.)
o With introduction of Preliminary trade item that can be used for “Subject to
change” items as a new category this 16 of the currently free form nutritional
labels become valid value list that you must now select from.
o Re-assignment of deprecated values (49 of them) that will no longer exist after
May 2016
o About 224 new rules have been introduced while changes to 13 current rules
and deprecating 3.
 GPC Class structure changes
o Introduction of Context or segments which provides much needed flexibility
over the currently defined rigid GPC brick structure of Family  Class  Brick
 Changed Unit of Measure to use UN/ECE Rec 20 code list
 Enhanced support for multiple language support
 Multiple updates to Validations with XML validation rules
GDSN Timelines (referenced from GS1 & 1WorldSync respectively)
From a 1WS migration standpoint here is what the timelines look like

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Why Riversand
We are an innovative leader in Master Data Management (MDM) and Product Information
Management (PIM). We are highly rated by Gartner, Forrester, LNC group and our GDSN
offering is catered for RAPID deployment in both cloud as well as on premise. Our modular
solution approach and delivery methodology caters to the philosophy of “start small and
deliver quick value” for MR3 compliance and subsequently evolve for other enterprise PIM and
MDM needs in the future.
Riversand MDMCenter is the first multi domain MDM and PIM solution to be GDSN Major
Release 3 certified, which would help in effective collaboration trading partners while
streamlining product introduction.
Key Features
Riversand Technologies Inc. is a global leader in Product Information Management (PIM) and
Multidomain Master Data Management (MDM) Solutions. Industry leaders such as Nordstrom, Bed,
Bath & Beyond, VF Corporation, SC Johnson, Ingersoll Rand and Siemens use Riversand Solutions for
synchronizing data across various enterprise systems to achieve accurate product, vendor and customer
information. Our PIM solution easily scales to millions of items and thousands of attributes and is
Certified for GDSN’s MR3 for your product data syndication needs.
LEARN MORE
MDMCenter
1WorldSync
Connector
(XML)