A new international standard, ISO 25500, is emerging as a potential solution to one of the most persistent problems in global commerce: unreliable and fragmented supply chain data. The Forbes article explains that as companies increasingly deploy artificial intelligence, the quality and trustworthiness of data have become critical constraints. Poor data leads directly to flawed insights, reinforcing the long-standing issue of “garbage in, garbage out.”
The urgency of this problem intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, when supply chains were forced to expand rapidly and connect with unfamiliar partners. Organizations struggled to verify information and coordinate across systems, exposing deep weaknesses in data interoperability and trust. In response, the International Organization for Standardization initiated work on a new framework designed to enable more reliable data exchange across global networks.
ISO 25500 builds on earlier data quality standards but goes further by introducing structured data exchange protocols combined with identity verification mechanisms. The goal is to create a trusted digital ecosystem, often described as an “industrial internet,” where buyers, suppliers, and government agencies can share verified, standardized information. This reduces the anonymity that enables fraud and improves confidence in transactions.
The standard addresses three core challenges. First is data quality, which remains inconsistent across organizations. Second is trust, as fraudulent activity in supply chains is increasing and becoming more sophisticated, often leveraging the same AI technologies used for legitimate operations. Third is interoperability, the ability of different systems and organizations to communicate seamlessly without costly data translation or manual intervention.
If widely adopted, ISO 25500 could reshape supply chain operations by enabling more reliable AI applications, faster cross-border trade, and stronger defenses against fraud. The article argues that the standard represents a shift from isolated data management toward a shared, verified data infrastructure. In an increasingly digital and interconnected economy, that shift may prove essential for scaling both trust and automation.