Axway gets closer to GS1

Business software specialist Axway has become the first vendor company to be accepted as a global member of the Healthcare Work Group operated by coding standards organisation GS1. Previously software vendors could apply only for national membership in GS1 working groups.

The higher level of membership will help Axway "drive standardisation initiatives and improve patient safety on a global level," it said in a statement. The software company offers a Track & Trace platform which has already been adopted by companies in the pharmaceutical arena, notably AstraZeneca  (see also AZ presses on with 'at-line mass serialisation').

Michael Wallace, director of global standards and serialisation at Abbott Laboratories and tri-chair of the GS1 Leadership Team, said: "the traceability experience [Axway] brings to the GS1 Healthcare effort will be extremely valuable as we move our focus towards implementation."