SALT launched its “Overcoming Barriers” blog series on the challenges and potential solutions to barriers that a company experiences when adopting electronic traceability. This five-part blog series drew on lessons and stories from relevant case studies, reports, presentations, and stakeholder interviews and discussions.

The five blogs cover the following topics:

1. Indirect Business Benefits of Electronic Traceability
   

   The first blog covers the social and ecological benefits of electronic traceability, namely the ability to reduce the risk of human rights abuses in supply chains, empower marginalized groups (a field example of women’s empowerment included), and improve the health of fish stocks by accessing more timely and accurate fisheries management data.

2. Economic Benefits

   In this blog, SALT covers the other side of the benefits of electronic traceability (the direct economic benefits to businesses), which include advantages in regard to regulatory compliance, food safety assurances, strengthened brand reputation, and increased operational efficiency. SALT also highlights some tools companies can use when considering the cost of implementation.

3. Interoperability: Speaking a Common Language
   

   Here, SALT outlines how interoperability, or the seamless exchange of information between technologies, makes it easier for companies to store, share, and access relevant data across their supply chains. Interoperability can help a company reap the full potential benefits of traceability, such as increased food safety or streamlined operations. The GDST recently unveiled their voluntary standards for interoperability, which are featured in this blog.

4. Trouble with Technology
   

   In this blog, SALT discusses what it means for a supply chain to be fully electronic, how to choose a third-party traceability vendor and feature a working list of options, and considerations when selecting or designing traceability technology based on lessons learned from traceability pilots across the globe

5. Role of Human Behavior in Electronic Traceability Implementation
   

   In this final blog of the series, SALT examines how human behavior can both impede progress towards and catalyze traceability. Humans often resist changing behavior—whether that is because of a hesitancy in trying new technology, reluctance towards operating in a new way, skepticism about changing an existing culture, or an objection to deviating from a status quo.