GSI TZ National Limited's barcode technology is steadily revolutionising the business environment for the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in particular.

Besides playing a key role in identifying bottlenecks and inefficiencies in the supply chain,

the barcode system has proved to be instrumental in promoting competitiveness of the domestically manufactured goods.

The introduction of the barcode is among the government moves to support SMEs to tap the opportunities available under different markets - the East African Community (EAC), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the European Union (EU) and the US's duty and tariff free African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

The barcode system facilitates traceability - the automatic identification and data capture on the products - providing information to consumers through identifying the product, its manufacturer and country of origin as well as date of manufacture, expiry date, inventory number and compliance with national and international standards.

The barcode technology has 18 months since it was introduced in Tanzania, but it has so far received an exceptional acceptance by SMEs, with about 8,000 products having issued with the barcode already and GSI (TZ) National Limited registering over 400 companies.

GS1 (TZ) Chief Executive Officer Fatma Kange says there is positive response to the technology and rising awareness on the use of barcodes in the domestically manufactured goods. The barcode, argues Ms Kange, communicates the safety and quality of the product to the end user, boosting the consumer's confidence on the purchased goods.

The barcode technology compels manufacturers to adhere to quality standards of the products, a necessary component in the competitive market. "The use of barcode technology has boosted sales of domestic products in super markets, leading to increased production to meet the expansive demand," Ms Kange told the 'Business Standard' in an interview in Dar es Salaam over the weekend.

Through provision of information on suppliers or customers involved in potential food safety issues, for instance, traceability can enable recalls or withdrawals of targeted products from the market. Ms Kange says publishers have recently started acquiring and branding their products with the barcode, leading to penetration of published materials to modern shops - supermarkets within and outside the country.