Several pilot projects are already demonstrating the value of digital traceability in the Australian construction sector.
ACRS Cloud: The Australasian Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural Steels (ACRS) has developed a cloud-based verification platform that links QR codes on steel products to digital certificates. This provides real-time access to compliance information and reduces the risk of using unverified materials.
Supply Chain Modernisation Project: Led by the Melbourne Transport Infrastructure Authority, this initiative uses GS1 standards to track products from procurement to payment. The project achieved faster approvals, improved data quality, and reduced waste through better material tracking.
Timber Chain of Custody: Certification schemes such as Responsible Wood and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) use digital traceability to confirm the origin and sustainability of timber products. These systems show how verified product data can support both compliance and sustainability goals.
Each of these examples illustrates how traceability improves trust, safety and efficiency when applied consistently across a supply chain.
And it should be noted that traceability is well advanced in other Australian industries such as agriculture and that there is much that we can learn.