The importance of the ECHO initiative and the use of the Global Data Synchronisation Network (GDSN) for product data exchange in healthcare can be best explained by subject matter experts.

From all parts of the supply chain, experts explain why the value of a harmonised approach is beneficial for the different organisations and departments. With a common model it is easier for suppliers to share product data with healthcare institutions across countries, and for healthcare institutions to know which data to expect and to structure their systems accordingly.