3M launches new Verify app to help tackle counterfeit personal protective equipment
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The introduction of the 3M™ Verify app represents a proactive approach by 3M to address the issue of counterfeit personal protective equipment (PPE). In the context of market dynamics, this move is indicative of the company's dedication to brand protection and customer safety, two factors that can significantly influence consumer trust and, consequently, market share.
From a market perspective, the app can be seen as an investment in customer relationship management and brand reputation. By ensuring product authenticity, 3M is likely to reinforce customer loyalty and potentially command a premium for its products, given the added assurance of safety and quality. This strategy may also deter potential counterfeiters, thereby protecting 3M's market position and possibly leading to increased sales volume as customers seek guaranteed genuine products.
However, the development and maintenance of such technology could involve significant costs. The return on this investment will depend on the app's effectiveness in reducing counterfeit incidents and the extent to which it enhances customer satisfaction and market perception of the 3M brand.
3M's launch of the Verify app demonstrates the company's response to the legal implications of counterfeit PPE. Counterfeiting is a criminal offense that can lead to litigation and regulatory scrutiny. By deploying the app, 3M is not only aiding in the detection and reporting of counterfeit products but also potentially mitigating legal risks associated with the use of counterfeit PPE, which could result in liability for the company if users were harmed.
The app could serve as a tool for 3M to gather evidence against counterfeiters, which can be used in legal proceedings. This proactive stance may also be favorably viewed by regulators, possibly reducing the risk of punitive action against the company for counterfeit incidents beyond its control. Furthermore, the app's capability to directly contact 3M for further investigation into inconclusive results demonstrates a commitment to due diligence and consumer protection.
Counterfeit PPE can disrupt the supply chain integrity of companies like 3M. The Verify app is an innovative measure to ensure supply chain transparency and product integrity. By authenticating products at the carton level, 3M is effectively adding a layer of traceability and quality assurance that can streamline the supply chain process.
For stakeholders such as distributors and retailers, the app can act as a verification mechanism to prevent the infiltration of counterfeit goods, potentially reducing the risk of inventory loss and reputational damage. It also adds value to the procurement process by enabling quick and reliable verification of PPE authenticity. In the long term, this could lead to more efficient inventory management and improved supplier relations, as partners can be confident in the quality and legitimacy of the products they are purchasing from 3M.
Protecting the health and safety of workers across industries and work environments is one of 3M's passions. We understand the importance of keeping workers safe and protected, and we recognize the value of being certain that PPE is genuine. Counterfeit products can pose serious risks to workers as they may not be tested or approved in the same way as authentic 3M products. Instead they are made by fraudsters using unknown processes and materials without quality control. Depending on the type of product, using a counterfeit product could put a person's safety at risk.
Continuing the efforts against PPE counterfeiting that arose from the COVID-19 pandemic, 3M has established the new 3M™ Verify app to help companies ensure their PPE is authentic. The app helps validate a disposable respirator carton in real time by using advanced technology to identify a bar code and determine if a product package is genuine. A genuine result provides a high degree of certainty that you have an authentic 3M™ Disposable Respirator. An inconclusive result means that the package is either not recognized or a potential counterfeit. If you receive an inconclusive result, the app will help you contact 3M directly for further investigation.
The app is currently available for the following products:
- 3M™ Health Care Particulate Respirators and Surgical Masks, 1860 & 1860S, N95
- 3M™ Particulate Respirator 8210, N95 -- excluding the consumer packout version of this product
- 3M™ Aura™ Particulate Respirator 9330+, FFP3
- 3M™ Aura™ Particulate Respirator 9332+, FFP3
You can download the 3M™ Verify app in Apple's App Store. The app will be available on Google Play at a later date.
"If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is," said Cassie Jacobson, director, 3M Personal Safety Division. "The 3M Verify app will enable customers to be confident their disposable respirators are genuine and working to keep them safe and protected."
3M is committed to taking action to stop and deter fraud to protect people around the world. For more information about 3M's resources to fight counterfeiting, visit 3M.com/3MVerify.
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SOURCE 3M Company
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