So, you’re searching for an anti counterfeit solution. What’s the first thing you do? Visit Google of course.
However, I’m sure having to go through thousands of search results and speaking with different sales teams from across the globe won’t be something you would love to do. In this article, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you.
Speaking with many brand owners like you, price is usually the first thing out of their mouths. If you look at your spend on an anti counterfeit solution as an expense and not an investment, you’re looking at it from the wrong angle. The anti counterfeit solution should be able to provide additional value that greatly improves other sectors of your business like sales, marketing, supply chain, finance, etc. The value of the solution should compound across different departments.
In essence, it should both save you money and make you money.
Now that you know this, how can you spot an anticounterfeit solution that can both save you money and make you money?
4 Most Important Factors For Choosing The Best Anti Counterfeit Solution;
- Security – how easily can the solution be replicated and copied by counterfeiters
- Adaptability – can the solution fit with my current production and operational processes?
- Compliance – is the solution in line with global packaging standards and anti counterfeit regulations?
- Analytics – what kind of data is being collected and what type of insights can I squeeze out of it to help my business in general?
- Use cases – how many products are currently using it and what’s the success level so far?
Based on the criteria above, we’ll be rating the 5 solutions on this list. We shortlisted these from over 100 solutions on our initial list.
What Are The 5 Best Anti Counterfeit Solutions?
Chekkit’s anti counterfeit solution provides unique identities for your products & batches as either data matrix codes, QR codes, or PINs. Authentication happens when a consumer or trade partner scans the QR code (or data matrix code) or dials a USSD code with the product’s unique PIN. Chekkit was founded in October 2018.
NeuroTags provides unique QR codes for your product packaging, allowing consumers to scan a product’s QR code as a means of verification. The company was founded in June 2017
Sproxil provides unique codes for your products as QR codes and PINs while consumers verify by scanning the QR code or sending the PIN to an SMS shortcode. Founded in July 2009
With it’s labels, consumers are empowered to simply make use of the cameras of their smartphones to verify a product. It also generates and manages the unique codes on said labels. Founded in March 2015
5. Scantrust
Consumers can scan and authenticate any Scantrust secure QR code (on the product’s packaging) with a mobile phone camera. The company was founded in 2013.
Comparing The Best Anti Counterfeit Solutions Selected
1. Will counterfeiters be able to replicate or imitate the solution?
| SOLUTION | PROS | CONS | SCORE (MAX 10 MARKS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chekkit | - Unique IDs can be hidden with a scratch panel - Uses special ink called taggants for it's labels which can't be faked - Uses secure QR codes with a Chekkit finger print - Real time monitoring for spotting code duplication in the market | - If you choose printing directly on product packaging, codes are visible | 8 |
| NeuroTags | - Real time monitoring for spotting code duplication in the market - A second QR code (hidden by scratch panel) as a check and balance | - Codes are visible on product's packaging - Uses regular QR codes | 6 |
| Sproxil | - Unique IDs can be hidden with a scratch panel - Real time monitoring for spotting code duplication in the market | - Uses regular QR codes | 7 |
| Cypheme | - Unique codes are not regular QR codes - Real time monitoring for spotting code duplication in the market | - Codes are visible on product's packaging | 7 |
| Scantrust | - Secure QR codes with Scantrust secure graphic - Real time monitoring for spotting code duplication in the market | - Codes are visible on product's packaging | 7 |
2. How flexible and easy is the solution to use for both my operations and consumers?
| SOLUTION | PROS | CONS | SCORE (10 MARKS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chekkit | - USSD verification is available for persons without smartphones or internet - Integrates with your current ERPs and production line traceability provider - 3 methods of verification (USSD, Scan, Taggants) - Sticker labels for production lines that aren't automated - You don't need to download an app to scan products | - A downtime in the network service provider can some times affect the USSD verification | 9 |
| NeuroTags | - You don't need to download an app to verify products - Sticker labels for production lines that aren't automated | - No integrations with ERPs and other production line traceability solutions - Just one method of verification (phone scan) | 7 |
| Sproxil | - 2 methods of verification (SMS, Scan) - Sticker labels for production lines that aren't automated - SMS verification is available for persons without smartphones or internet | - No integrations with ERPs and other production line traceability solutions - SMS verification can take minutes and sometimes doesn't return a result for the consumer | 8 |
| Cypheme | - Unique codes are not regular QR codes - Sticker labels for production lines that aren't automated - You don't need to download an app to scan products | - No integrations with ERPs and other production line traceability solutions - Just one method of verification (phone scan) | 8 |
| Scantrust | - Integrates with your current ERPs and production line traceability provider - You don't need to download an app to scan products | - Just one method of verification (phone scan) | 8 |
3. Is the solution in line with global packaging standards and anti counterfeit regulations?
| SOLUTION | PROS | CONS | SCORE (10 MARKS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chekkit | - GS1 standards solutions provider - Provides product serialisation for end-to-end supply chain traceability - Complies with the Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) policy for the distribution of certain pharmaceuticals in Africa | 10 | |
| NeuroTags | - GS1 standards solutions provider - Complies with basic product serialisation best practices | - Doesn't provide product serialisation for end-to-end supply chain traceability - Doesn't comply with the Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) policy | 7 |
| Sproxil | - Provides product serialisation for end-to-end supply chain traceability - Provides product serialisation for end-to-end supply chain traceability - Complies with the Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) policy | 10 | |
| Cypheme | - Complies with basic product serialisation best practices | - No communication about it being a GS1 standards solutions provider - Doesn't provide product serialisation for end-to-end supply chain traceability - Doesn't comply with the Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) policy | 6 |
| Scantrust | - GS1 standards solutions provider - Provides product serialisation for end-to-end supply chain traceability | - Doesn't comply with the Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) policy | 9 |
4. What type of insight and extra value can I get from the anti counterfeit solutions?
| SOLUTION | PROS | CONS | SCORE (10 MARKS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chekkit | - Product, purchase data, contacts, and consumer details from verifications - Insights from surveys for collecting data on consumer behaviour, preferences, side effects, etc - A consumer database for re-engaging consumers and personalizing your marketing - Supply chain & distribution data to monitor market diversions & spot new market opportunities - Uses Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence for data analysis - Rewards as incentives for consumers to verify products - Default reward for consumers sponsored by Chekkit | 9 | |
| NeuroTags | - Product, purchase data, contacts, and consumer details from verifications - A consumer database for re-engaging consumers and personalizing your marketing - Rewards as incentives for consumers to verify products | - No consumer survey at the point of verification - No Supply chain & distribution data to monitor market diversions & spot new market opportunities | 7 |
| Sproxil | - Product, purchase data, contacts, and consumer details from verifications - Rewards as incentives for consumers to verify products - Supply chain & distribution data to monitor market diversions | - No consumer survey at the point of verification | 7 |
| Cypheme | - Product, purchase data, contacts, and consumer details from verifications - Uses Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence for data analysis | - No consumer survey at the point of verification - No Supply chain & distribution data to monitor market diversions & spot new market opportunities | 7 |
| Scantrust | - Product, purchase data, contacts, and consumer details from verifications - A consumer database for re-engaging consumers and personalizing your marketing - Supply chain & distribution data to monitor market diversions | - No consumer survey at the point of verification | 8 |
5. How widely used is the solution and what are the success stories?
| SOLUTION | PROS | CONS | SCORE (10 MARKS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chekkit | - Available on over 50 million products - Gets up to 6x the industry average rate of consumer verifications - Used by brands across multiple industries and countries globally | - Chekkit is the youngest of all the companies | 8 |
| NeuroTags | - Gets up to 5x the industry average rate of consumer verifications - Used by brands across multiple industries and countries globally | 7 | |
| Sproxil | - Been operational for over 10 years - Over 80 million consumer verifications | - Industry average of below 10% consumer verification rate | 9 |
| Cypheme | - Used by brands across multiple industries and countries globally | - Industry average of below 10% consumer verification rate | 8 |
| Scantrust | - Used by brands across multiple industries and countries globally | - Industry average of below 10% consumer verification rate | 8 |
Which Of The Best Anti Counterfeit Solutions Comes Out On Top?
Here’s the total scoring based on the 5 criteria;
| Chekkit | NeuroTags | Sproxil | Cypheme | Scantrust | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Adaptability | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Compliance | 10 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 9 |
| Analytics | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| Use Cases | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
| TOTAL (MAX 50) | 44 | 34 | 41 | 36 | 40 |
While all 5 of the anti counterfeit solutions we reviewed will get the job done very well, if you’re looking to be more data-driven in your decision-making, then Chekkit is the ideal solution for you. Simply because it offers insights into your consumers like the others cant.
Would you like to see how Chekkit’s Anti Fake solution would work exactly for your brand?
