By Martin Vedris

SYDNEY, NSW: Australia’s consumer electronics retailers and suppliers have put their different business agendas aside to work together to maximise opportunities for both sides of the business in a new industry working group.

CEWAG (Consumer Electronics Working Action Group) was formed to enable retailers and suppliers to identify how to progress the industry by developing supply chain standards and tools for eCommerce.

Participants in CEWAG include Bing Lee, Breville, BSR Group (Betta Electrical and Chandlers), Dick Smith, Electrolux, Fisher & Paykel, Harvey Norman, LG, Panasonic, Retravision, Sony, Sunbeam, and Whirlpool.

The group is an initiative of GS1 Australia, a not-for-profit supply chain standards and services organisation.

“It is clear that suppliers and retailers have common objectives and are keen to see them achieved,” said CEWAG steering committee Chair, Shane Harris of the BSR Group. The CEWAG Vice-Chair is Brian Gow from Sony Australia Limited

The group’s stated key objective is to work with all interested industry trading partners to develop, promote and implement aspects of the GS1 system including product identification, automatic data capture, electronic messaging, data synchronisation and product classifications to enable effective and efficient business processes.

The group aims to initially focus on three areas that it believes all parties can benefit from quickly:

• The creation of a master data model
• Electronic messaging standards, and
• Reverse logistics

Harris paid tribute to the achievements of the previous industry group created with similar objectives, APPLIECOM.

“APPLIECOM created some great foundations for us and we will definitely benefit from their achievements,” he said.

“We intend using the standards created and reviewing them to reflect the changes that have occurred in the industry since APPLIECOM last met. We are lucky enough to have some of the APPLIECOM participants contributing to our current group.”

CEWAG is now calling for interested parties to participate in the three action groups of Master Data, Electronic Messaging, and Reverse Logistics.

CEWAG aims to meet regularly, alternating between Sydney and Melbourne for meetings, and will also offer teleconference facilities to participants.