Q: Is the Verify Brand technology/solution available now?
A: Yes, the Verify Brand solution is available
now and is deployed in production environments. Verify Brand, Inc. brings
to its customers more than five years of experience in secure mass serialization
and more than one billion mass-serialized product labels for several of the most
recognizable brand owners in the software and electronics industries. Verify
Brand combines this experience with unique software and services to deliver an end-to-end
authentication solution, requiring minimal disruption to a customer's existing production
and distribution systems and processes.
Q: How does the Verify Brand technology work?
A: The technology is based on "mass serialization"
and an explosion of possibilities inside a large alpha-numeric "code." Simply
stated, a randomly generated and unique code is applied to a product label, package,
box, crate, and/or pallet. These codes are then kept on a protected Internet
server to be verified for authenticity at a later time. Since the code
is random and unique, it is not possible for someone to correctly guess a code.
And, if real codes are stolen from packages and reproduced on counterfeit product,
our real-time verification activity tracking will identify false verification events
and report these to the manufacturer for an appropriate response.
Q: How experienced is Verify Brand in creating mass serialization
to protect products from counterfeiting and diversion?
A: We believe that no company can match our experience
in mass serialization. We have already produced more than one billion coded
labels to protect product in the electronics and software industries. We have achieved this
using Six Sigma Quality Systems and our patent pending Secure Code Control®
process has produced zero duplicate or lost coded anti-counterfeit labels.
Q: How is the Verify Brand solution different from supply
chain management or track-and-trace?
A: Product security is not the same as supply
chain track-and-trace. That is not to say that the two cannot co-exist.
Unlike track-and-trace products however, the Verify Brand solution directly addresses
product authentication at any point in the supply chain, including business customers
and consumers. Track-and-trace solutions are normally focused on providing
best practices execution and efficiency within the supply chain, but do not necessarily
verify that the products flowing through the supply chain are authentic or provide
a product security capability.
The Verify Brand solution can be integrated with ERP and other organic or third-
party supply chain or internal distribution management solutions to facilitate product
authentication through these.
Q: Can the solution work with RFID tags and scanning systems?
A: Absolutely. RFID tags are simply another
vehicle in which the Verify Brand verification codes and other information can reside.
Similar to bar codes, verification codes are imbedded within the RFID tag and scanned
at the appropriate locations. Product scans are sent to the Verify Brand secure
web server for verification, in the same way as with a bar code scan. In fact,
the Verify Brand solution provides an excellent on-ramp to RFID adoption.
Q: Is the solution able to work with the EPCglobal standard?
A: To date we have not had a customer request
utilization of the EPCglobal standard for our product security and authentication
capability. However, we expect customers to consider how their use of the
EPCglobal standard in a supply chain management role can be applied to product authentication.
Verify Brand has researched and defined the options by which our solution can integrate
with the EPCglobal standard and we are an active participant in the EPCglobal serialization
and Drug Pedigree working groups.
Q: Approximately how long does it take to implement the solution?
A: This will depend on the extent to which the
solution is deployed, i.e. how and where codes are printed and by what entity, how
many locations, the extent to which authentication will occur, etc. Verify
Brand works closely with its customers to design a plan that will smooth implementation
and like the solution itself, minimize disruption to customer and supplier operations.
Q: Can I use my existing label and packaging suppliers?
A: Yes, Verify Brand will partner with your current
label supplier to integrate our Secure Code Control®
software application so that your process for label supply is not disrupted.
Q: Can my existing label be used and can I add additional
security features?
A: Yes, your existing label may be used, as long
as there is sufficient room on the label to add the Verification Code in the preferable
format and any additional information that is required to facilitate authentication.
If there is not sufficient room, an additional label can easily be developed.
Any label used initially or at a later time can be revised to include additional
or new security features.
Q: How will the consumer know that they should verify the
product and how?
A: The Verify Brand solution should be a key part
of the company's brand protection and enhancement effort. Therefore, the company
should communicate with its end customers that it is making every effort to ensure
that its customer's purchase is an authentic and safe product. The Verify
Brand solution provides an opportunity for brand owners to enhance brand loyalty
by communicating to its end customers that it is focused on ensuring their safety.
Q: How does the product information become associated with
the unique product verification code and can the system include product information?
A: Product information can be obtained through
your normal label and packaging product ordering process, or otherwise as necessary.
Normal product and distribution information is critical to reporting on the verification
process, identifying and locating sources of counterfeit or diverted product and
in the event of product recalls.
|
