During the weekly IppStar Conversations, Packaging South Asia had a chat with Ankit Gupta, vice president of the Authentication Solution Providers’ Association (ASPA), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing secure authentication solutions.
We discussed the problem of counterfeit products infiltrating the supply chain and explored effective strategies to combat them. Gupta spoke on ASPA’s role in the industry, highlighting solutions and initiatives designed to counter duplicate and counterfeit products.
The discussion underscored the significance of incorporating advanced technologies such as nano-engraving, RFID, holograms, QR codes, and blockchain into packaging design. These technologies not only enable real-time tracking and authentication but also empower consumers to verify product authenticity effortlessly.
ASPA announced its expansion into the Middle East and African regions with the introduction of its MEA (Middle East & Africa) Chapter. The announcement was made at drupa 2024, which saw the participation of more than 40 delegates from Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India. The new Middle East and Africa chapter will be headed by Ranesh Bajaj, who will be the chairperson.
Gupta, who is also the managing director of Holostik, highlighted various facets of combating counterfeiting and the implication of authentication – emphasizing the importance of the phygital approach. With a fusion of physical and digital elements. The phygital approach can be a solution to the escalating challenges posed by counterfeiting.
He explained how this integrated strategy that combines tangible features with digital technologies enhances product security and authenticity. The security hologram market, Gupta said, is all set to grow globally due to rising consumer awareness against counterfeit goods and the rising need for anti-counterfeit equipment.
The need for security holograms is being fuelled by an upsurge in eCommerce sales of counterfeit goods, which can affect the brand image and sales of genuine products. The availability of fake goods not only damages the brand and value of the business but also hurts the customers, Gupta said.
