At Blue Cromos, we know we're not the only ones into product authentication. But, as far as we're aware, we're unique in how we do it. We stick to our mantra:
Nothing added. Simply.
"Simply" for producers and consumers, that is. Not necessarily for us.
All product authentication solutions, including our isAuthentic, authenticate by identifying an item in the market as actually having left the producers plant.
All other solutions we've come across, do that based on adding something at the factory. Something that is later used for authentication.
Some work with fluorescent ink, others with other advanced links, some with hologram labels or other labels. Yet others work with electronic tags or transmitters. Something that is added to the product or the packaging.
We don't.
We think it would be a good idea to explain why we're so stubborn on not walking down that path..
The first point is, indeed, about simplification.
Easier for producers
Production processes are carefully designed to maximise productivity, minimise waste in both time and material and reduce errors to a minimum. Reliability and optimisation are deeply rooted in the DNA of Production. Making changes and additions to production processes aren't made lightly. We know. We come from a background in production, in combination with advanced computer vision.
Unintrusive installation
Any solution involving adding anything to the product or packaging does Inherently result in extensive direct impact on the carefully optimised production processes and the cost to implement rises significantly. Production lines that subsequently are likely to require re-optimising. The duration of such a standstill depends, of course, on the characters of both the production line and what is getting installed. Maybe days, maybe weeks, maybe months. Irrespective of the duration, it's money lost. It's not uncommon that the cost of lost production overshadows the cost of actual installation work.
As we add nothing, our installation doesn't intrude on the existing production process. All we need is power, internet connectivity and a ordinary maintenance break or setting time. No production lost. No re-optimisation needed.
No interruption added
To make things even better, we're working on doing away with installation entirely. So far, maintaining impressive accuracy in authentication. Stay tuned.
The ease goes on
Adding authentication gadgets to products and packages also means one (or more) more supply items to manage. Items need to be ordered, stock kept and supply hiccups could cause production stoppages, or products risking being wrongly identified as counterfeit as they lack the authentication thingy.
With isAuthentic, the only ongoing concern you might have is power supply and internet connectivity and if either of those fails, there are probably greater issues than our equipment.
One thing less that can go wrong
Financially straightforward
As isAuthentic is an exclusively digital service, there are no materials involved. No dependencies on supplies that could run scarce or with volatile costs. The business model is easy and predictable.
Easy to authenticate
Adding authentication gadgets to products or packaging, in most cases means requiring special devices to authenticate in the field, if that is at all possible. Naturally, that limits the capacity for authentication. Probably also adding the cost for such authentication devices to the already more complex business model.
Our high volume solutions for finished products only need a smartphone and an app for authentication. They don't even ask for much in way of light and stability when scanning for authentication.
If you can take a selfie, you can authenticate with isAuthentic
No design impact
Adding things require space for them to be added. They are likely to affect the look and feel of products or packaging. Designers and marketing officers may have spent hours and efforts working on sleek and minimalistic designs, only to need to compromise and identify where the added authentication gadget will be the least of an eyesore.
With isAuthentic, no such concerns need to be overcome.
Your design. Intact.
Consumer trust in you and your product, not in the gadget
Solutions depending on added authentication whatsits, means that the trust gained actually is not trust in you, the supplier, but in the gadget used for authentication. Assuming you already have a good reputation for quality and authenticity, that trust isn't really leveraged. Instead, a new, unknown for them, hi-tech solution needs to earn the trust of the public for your product to benefit.
Consumers also need to gain confidence that the authentication gadget is as possible to counterfeit as the original product. "Any product can be counterfeited. Why not anti-counterfeiting gadgets?"
As we work with your product and packaging only, all added trust is in you and there's nothing else that first needs to gain consumer trust.
Trust in your brand, boosted.
As you an see, we've really worked to make it as easy as possible for you to protect yourselves against counterfeiters and as easy as possible to get all internal stakeholders on board with the initiative.
Image by triocean in iStock
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