GoldKeys

Product Description

GoldKeys is a supply chain and customer outreach platform focused on fast-growing emerging markets. It secures products against faking and counterfeiting using mobile and web technologies. It allows consumers to verify the authenticity of products they buy via SMS or a web form.

Target SDGs

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Public Sector Agencies

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Regional head offices in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and India

Manufacturing/Building Method

Software development

Intellectural Property Type

Trademark

User Provision Model

Via head offices in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and India

Distributions to Date Status

Unknown

Design Specifications

GoldKeys is designed to connect customers with a brand's supply chain. By entering a PIN code found on the product, customers can verify the legitimacy of the product. This happens in three steps:

Rub off a scratch layer on the product - a PIN code is revealed.
SMS the PIN code to 4-digit phone number (1393 in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, Tanzania, Sierra Leone), or type the code in the search box at www.1393.co).
Receive response confirming or denying the validity of the product or its sales/supply history.

Authentication is based on the end-to-end supply chain validation mechanism, which helps customers identify fake products and manufacturers defend their brands.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

International support office located in Amsterdam

Replacement Components

N/A

Lifecycle

N/A

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Goldkeys aims at reducing the number of counterfeit products in Africa.

Vetted Performance Status

Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) used the product for e-verification of agro-inputs, and users received a response within seconds 98% of the time. KEPHIS and STAK used it to identify fake seeds as part of the Agrotrack initiative. Since 2016 over 20 million retail seed packs have been deployed. The clothing company GTP used GoldKeys to identify fake textiles and prints, which helped them achieve 12% more than their actual target for 2015. In Nigeria, the prevalence of counterfeit drugs has dropped from the estimated 30% to less than 10%.

Safety

N/A

Complementary Technical Systems

None

Academic Research and References

Kshetri, N., 2016, Creation, Deployment, Diffusion and Export of Sub-Saharan Africa-Originated Information Technology-Related Innovations, International Journal of Information Management, 36(6), pp. 1274-1287.

Compliance with regulations

N/A

Evaluation methods

The product was evaluated for response time to the users, increase in sales for companies implementing the product, and reducing the prevalence of counterfeit products in the pharmaceutical industry.

Other Information

In 2016 mPedigree was ranked 5th most innovative company in Africa. GoldKeys was featured in research on counterfeit drugs in Africa. Case studies are published on the product website. An article by Center for the Protection of Intellectual Property states that GoldKeys is facilitating the protection of both brand owners and consumers. Bright Simons, the founder and president of mPedigree, was included in the list top 35 innovators under 35 by MIT Technology Review in 2013.