Comet will improve the product information it provides by synchronising data from its suppliers through GS1 UK’s data pool.

The global data synchronisation (GDS) project will define product information from suppliers using agreed standards and could include product description, price, size, pack and name.

The first phase of Comet’s GDS project goes live in February and will involve it working with seven TV manufacturers on the data it holds on their products using the GS1 data pool.

In the second phase to be completed by June 2008, the project will be expanded to further product categories.

Customers will benefit from richer and better-quality product information. Comet will also be able to bring new products to market more quickly with product information supplied to the retailer automatically.

Comet general manager of commercial process Chris Kent said: “By synchronising data with manufacturers we benefit from improved accuracy, consistent and automatic delivery of information, faster information set-up and improved buyer effectiveness.”

The retailer chairs GS1’s electrical special interest group on GDS, which was set up to formulate data attributes and working processes for trading partners.