If you’re thinking about adopting Digital Product Passports (DPPs) sooner, rather than later for your fashion brand, this post is for you!
DPPs will help you stay on top of new regulations, boost transparency, and support customer engagement.
Here’s a step-by-step checklist to guide you through the process:
🔍 Step 1: Check Your Tech Setup
- Where are you now – What Are Your Current Systems: See if your existing software (like ERP, PLM) can support a DPP system. Should you get an All-In-One-Solution?
- Are You Ready To Collect All Data? Make sure you’re set up to collect and store detailed product info like sourcing, production processes, and supply chain partners.
- How Is Your Supply Chain Traceability? Check if you can track product lifecycles and trace materials from start to finish.
🗂️ Step 2: Define What Data You Need
- Get the data list: When the DPP criteria list is available, see what needs to be included in your DPPs—It will be data on material sources, certifications, and sustainability metrics, product care, product afterlife, etc.
- Standardize Data Entry Across the Board: Make sure your suppliers and partners are using the same format for data input, so everything matches up.
- Follow Industry Standards: Follow widely accepted frameworks like GS1 or ISO to ensure compatibility.
🛠️ Step 3: Pick the Right Tech Partner
- Research the Best Options FOR YOU: Look for tech providers offering DPP solutions that align with your business needs.
- Check for Compatibility: Make sure the platform will work with your existing systems and can grow with your business.
- Review Security Measures: Verify that your provider has strong security protocols in place to protect sensitive data.
🤝 Step 4: Partner Up with Suppliers and Vendors
- Get Everyone Onboard Early: Explain the value of DPPs to your suppliers and partners, and set clear expectations for data sharing and transparency.
- Create Data Sharing Guidelines: Make it easy for partners to share data by creating a simple framework that everyone can follow.
- Share Information: Share information and training sessions to make sure your suppliers know exactly how to give you the data for DPPs.
📊 Step 5: Compliance and Verification
- Everybody Needs To Understand What’s Required: All departments need to stay up-to-date on new regulations around DPPs and make sure your plan ticks all the boxes.
- Create Internal Checkpoints: Set up internal processes to ensure all the data is verified, accurate, and compliant.
- Do You Need External Audits? Think about using third-party auditors to validate your DPPs for extra credibility.
🛒 Step 6: Get DPPs Into The Product Lifecycle
- Start from the Design Phase: Incorporate DPP requirements right from the beginning to make sure all essential data is collected early on.
- Centralize DPP Information: Store all DPP-related data in one place for easy access and quick implementation.
- Link Digital to Physical Products: Use QR codes, NFC, or RFID chips to connect your physical products to their digital passports.
📢 Step 7: Communicate with Your Audience
- Tell Your Story: Use DPPs to show the journey of your products—talk about transparency, sustainability, and your brand’s purpose.
- Promote It: Share your DPPs through marketing channels to show customers that you’re serious about sustainability and transparency.
- Educate your customers: Make sure to educate your customers about using the DPPs to deeper engage with your brand. Remember this is a new behavior for them as well so you need to show the path.
- Differentiate Your Brand: Position yourself as a leader in the space by promoting your use of DPPs and the value they bring.
🔄 Step 8: Monitor and Evolve
- Keep Data Up to Date: Regularly update product information to reflect any changes in production or supply chain.
- Use Metrics for Improvement: Analyze the data to identify trends and areas where you can boost sustainability or efficiency.
- Use the customer feedback to improve collections and products: Use the data you get from your customer communication via the DPP to improve your collections and product quality.
- Stay Ahead of New Regulations: Be proactive and adjust your strategy as new regulations and standards come into play.
💡 Tip: Start small with one product line to pilot your DPPs. Learn from the experience, tweak it as needed, and then roll it out across the brand.
This is the greatest opportunity – You can improve your supplier relations and communication, you will have more control of your operations and supply chain, you will have direct communication with your end consumers and you can control the data that is put out into the world about your brand and it’s purpose.
PORTIA is your solution for Digital Product Passports!
