Authenticateit is an Australian track-and-trace app for iOS and Android that allows shoppers to check a product’s authenticity before they buy it. The aim is to combat counterfeiting and unauthorised grey imports which purportedly cost the global economy $250 billion annually.
Authenticateit allows manufacturers to track and trace their products throughout the supply chain via an authentication system that also lets retailers verify the authenticity of goods received from their suppliers.
The system is compatible with GS1 global standards which means consumers can quickly scan a GS1 Databar with their smartphone to verify a product’s authenticity. The same databar can also be used as a product barcode by retailers at point-of-sale.
“Authenticateit enables brands to take immediate action to recall, bar, disable or neutralize unauthorised sales or imports,” claimed Authenticateit’s founder Gennady Volchek. “We’re urging Australian manufacturers and retailers to jump on board to help protect themselves and their customers.”
Local companies that are already using Authenticateit include Ugg boot manufacturer Jumbo Ugg and leather goods supplier LeSerge.
Authenticateit is now available as a free consumer smartphone app for iPhone/iPad and Android devices. Interested businesses can find more information at the Authenticateit website.
Comments
4 responses to “New Anti-Counterfeit App Lets You Know If It’s “The Real McCoy””
Great idea but looking at one of the companies who have started using the service: Jumbo Uggs, we can see the massive amount of confusion that can come about with brands who carry generic products such as UGG boots. Are they hoping to make all other UGG boots fakes? This could point to misleading consumers about products for sale.
Kanthan, thanks for taking the time to comment. The Authenticateit system help consumers to confirm the genuineness of an item in question that is produced by the brand identified on the label. For instance if you’re purchasing an product of a specific brand, lets say Gucci (once Gucci has become an Authenticateit partner brand) – Autheticateit will give you that peace of mind to purchase the product at any retail or online store with confidence. For more info, visit – http://authenticateit.com/
So how do I know if the app’s real?
Jackson, as long as you’ve downloaded the “Authenticateit” app directly from the Appstore or Google Play you’re safe!
“The aim is to combat counterfeiting and unauthorised grey imports which purportedly cost the global economy $250 billion annually.”
I can understand the counterfeiting but so called unauthorised grey imports? It sounds like this app was created by big ‘traditional’ retailers like Harvey Norman and their local distributors to try scare people into paying their huge margins.
A Canon camera is a still a Canon camera whether I get it from an ‘unauthorised’ grey importer or Harvey Norman. Grey imports are just a cheaper way of paying for the genuine article, and scaring people with words like ‘unauthorised’ is misleading.
The grey imports reference is more to do with merchants than the customer — it allows them to confirm where the supplier/reseller got their stock from.
Kanthan, thanks for taking the time to comment. The Authenticateit system help consumers to confirm the genuineness of an item in question that is produced by the brand identified on the label. For instance if you’re purchasing an product of a specific brand, lets say Gucci (once Gucci becomes an Authenticateit partner brand) – Autheticateit will give you that peace of mind to purchase the product at any retail or online store with confidence. For more info, visit – http://authenticateit.com/
What’s the app