The Supply Chain is undergoing a profound transformation. Rising costs, pressure for efficiency, and the operational complexity of industrial companies reinforce the need for quick, strategic decisions based on reliable data. In this scenario, an often underestimated element takes on a leading role: the materials master data .

More than just a database, the registry has become the point of convergence between information, governance, and collaborative intelligence. CH | Astrein , a pioneer in master data management in Brazil, has been building an approach that not only standardizes information but also restructures how companies interact with suppliers, build contracts, and leverage the power of the community.

In this article, we explore how standardization—especially through the Golden Code and the collaborative purchasing platform—is raising the maturity of the Supply Chain , reducing costs, preventing losses, and creating opportunities for mutual gain among independent companies. All of this is based on real-world practices shared in the webinar between Tadeu and Júlio, direct leaders of these initiatives at CH | Astrein.

What is the Golden Code and why is it a game-changer in the Supply Chain?

The biggest challenge for companies has always been the same: each company has its own internal coding system for materials. This generates rework, inconsistencies, discrepancies, and, most importantly, prevents any collaborative purchasing initiative. There is no community without a "common language".

CH | Astrein solved this problem by creating a unified database of over 3 million items , shared among all customers through a unique code: the Golden Code (CH Code) .

What the Golden Code does:

• It unifies distinct codes from different companies into a single, reliable reference.

• It automatically updates manufacturer information, descriptions, and technical changes for all customers.

• It consolidates the actual suppliers used by all companies that stock the item.

• It allows you to rank suppliers based on their purchase history within the community.

• It serves as a single basis for joint negotiations — eliminating divergences and noise.

The result is simple, yet powerful: a CH item is not just a code—it's a hub of shared intelligence , containing:

• standardized description

• technical attributes

• approved manufacturers

• distributors

• real suppliers used by companies

• ranking by volume and quality

• prices charged at the base

• adherence and history

This transforms the registration process into a strategic asset of high value for the entire Supply Chain .

Why standardization directly impacts the Supply Chain

1. The right information eliminates waste.

With unified data, there are no duplicate, divergent, or generic items. Buyers negotiate exactly what will be used, leaving no room for operational error.

2. Speed and accuracy in decision-making.

When the manufacturer changes a code or attribute, all customers are updated simultaneously . The chain remains synchronized.

3. Suppliers leveled by performance

The automatic consolidation of each client's most recent suppliers creates a live ranking — a true snapshot of who delivers best for the community.

4. Reducing stagnant inventory

The Surplus program, fueled by standardization, manages R$ 320 million in assets that would otherwise be scrap or lost.

5. Solid foundation for joint purchases

Without a common code, a purchasing club is unfeasible. With the Golden Code, demands are unified in minutes , not months.

Standardization ceases to be an "operational process" and becomes a central nervous system of the Supply Chain , supporting strategic decisions throughout the organization.

How does the CH | Astrein shopping community work?

Júlio presents one of the most innovative aspects that emerged with the Golden Code: the creation of a real, structured trading community, Bloco Champions .

The logic is clear:

When all companies speak the same "language of materials," it becomes possible to consolidate demand, negotiate at scale, and aggressively reduce costs.

The pillars of this community:

1. Unify demand between different companies

Ambev, Ipiranga, Consigaz, and several others already share the same coding structure. Therefore, a bearing used by all of them can be identified as the same item .

2. Consolidate suppliers quickly.

Since the Golden Code already contains the latest suppliers for each client, the team doesn't need to "discover" who the supplier is. Negotiations begin from the most advanced point possible.

3. Extract real prices

For each item, the platform identifies:

• Which company bought it better?

• What was the minimum price?

• Who are the most competitive suppliers?

• who delivers higher quality

This reduces the benchmarking and market intelligence phase — which normally takes months — to 2 or 3 days .

4. Exponential increase in volume

When 10 companies consolidate their demands, the purchase volume multiplies, expanding:

• bargaining power

• supplier response speed

• Manufacturers' interest in negotiating directly

  
  

5. Structured and transparent negotiation

The model allows for contracts of up to 12 months, without readjustment or exchange rate fluctuations , generating predictability and stability.

6. Opening to new participants

Even companies that are not part of the platform can participate, as long as they undergo a rapid cleanup of their material portfolio. This creates continuous expansion of the community.

Real case : Pilots of bearings and electrical materials

Currently, CH | Astrein is conducting pilot projects with approximately 10 companies , focusing on two priority product families:

• Bearings

• Electrical materials

  
  

Some lessons learned by these pilots:

• Consolidation reduced inconsistencies to just 1% to 1.5% — a rate considered negligible.

• Standardization allowed us to quickly extract the best historical prices .

• The unified volume attracted manufacturers , not just distributors.

• Direct negotiation resulted in immediate discounts due to the scale.

• In several companies, the savings already exceed 20% .

  
  

The speed was also surprising: what used to take 3 to 5 months can now be started in 2 to 3 days , thanks to the Golden Code.

Surplus: The impact on reducing losses in the Supply Chain

Another solution built on the standardized registration system is Surplus , a system that allows for the exchange of inactive materials between companies on the platform.

How it works:

1. The company sends the list of items that are out of service.

2. CH | Astrein identifies who uses this item on the platform .

3. Interested parties acquire the item at the average cost , not at scrap price.

4. The company that sells the item must purchase another active item from the platform, creating a balance.

   
   

Impact:

• More than R$ 320 million has already been transacted.

• The goal is to exceed R$ 3 billion .

• Dead stock becomes liquid capital.

• Companies reduce losses and optimize space.

• The entire supply chain gains circular efficiency.

Surplus only exists because of the Golden Code. Without precise material identification, it would be impossible to connect supply and demand.

Why is the community cutting costs so aggressively?

1. The intelligence is already in place.

Even before getting quotes, the team already knows:

• who buys

• how much do you buy

• What price did you pay?

• Which supplier did you use?

• who is the manufacturer

• which distributors do you serve?

  
  

2. Less time wasted on conferences and analyses.

The slowest stage — consolidation and standardization — disappears, since everything has been cleaned up beforehand.

3. Direct purchases from manufacturers

With the increase in consolidated volume, manufacturers begin to negotiate directly — reducing layers in the supply chain and improving prices.

4. Suppliers receive everything standardized.

Instead of 10 distinct lists, they receive:

• 1 unique list

• already with codes

• technical attributes

• cross-references

This speeds up quotations and reduces noise.

5. Long-term contracts without readjustment

The focus is on maintaining 12-month contracts, which reduces exposure to inflation and exchange rates.

The role of the supplier in the new Supply Chain

For the supplier, the platform offers something rare: complete clarity about the actual demand .

They receive:

• standardized lists

• consolidated volumes

• approved items

• manufacturer codes

• historical prices

  
  

Furthermore, new suppliers can register. However, as Júlio said:

"If the supplier isn't on the ranking, they'll need to work hard to catch up."

This demonstrates maturity: participation in the community requires technical competence and the ability to provide service.

The largest manufacturers are already integrated through customer consolidation, further accelerating the process.

For those who are not yet part of the platform: how do I join?

Even companies outside the platform can participate in negotiations, provided they go through an essential process:

1. Sanitation of the family of materials

CH | Astrein standardizes the chosen family and applies the Golden Code.

2. Participation in the negotiation

The company is entering the round along with the other participants.

3. Differentiated conditions

The fee is higher for external companies, since they lack structured governance, but the gains still more than justify participation.

This creates an entry point for companies that want to evaluate the model before diving into full governance.

How registration ensures reliability — even when the user makes a mistake.

A common question in the webinar was about buyers making mistakes when using incorrect codes.

The answer is clear:

• The CH | Astrein platform maintains an accurate description of the item.

• The cleanup process corrects generic and duplicate entries.

• The average actual distortion found in the 10 companies in the pilot program was only 1% to 1.5% .

• Even when there is a typo, the overall impact is negligible.

• Before any quote is initiated, a detailed pre-analysis is carried out by CH | Astrein itself.

  
  

In other words, the system is robust enough to absorb minor noises without compromising the result.

Why this represents a new era for the Supply Chain

The model presented in the webinar reveals something much bigger than a registration platform:

This is the beginning of a collaborative Supply Chain , where:

• companies stop negotiating in isolation.

• Suppliers gain predictability.

• Manufacturers enter the supply chain earlier.

• data is shared

• contracts are longer

• Inventories are optimized.

• losses are reduced

• decisions are well-founded

  
  

Governance is no longer a reactive task, but a competitive advantage supported by consolidated master data.

And this is only possible when there is a common foundation — exactly what the Golden Code provides.

Best practices for companies that want to evolve their Supply Chain.

Based on the webinar, some practices emerge as essential:

1. Start with standardization.

Without clean data, no purchasing strategy can evolve.

2. Bring the manufacturer into the game.

Direct negotiation increases competitiveness and reduces intermediaries.

3. Work with longer contracts.

It mitigates risks and creates financial predictability.

4. Track prices between companies.

Community intelligence shows who can secure better conditions.

5. Participate in collaborative negotiations.

Scale is the greatest weapon in the modern supply chain.

6. Use historical data as a reference.

Price, volume, and suppliers reveal hidden opportunities.

7. Take advantage of Surplus

It transforms financial losses into reusable capital.

Conclusion

The Supply Chain has ceased to be merely an operational area and has become a strategic axis for companies. Data governance, collaboration between industries, and structured negotiations now go hand in hand — and the CH | Astrein Golden Code is the catalyst for this movement.

Standardization is much more than just organizing a database: it's about reducing costs , gaining scale , increasing competitiveness , and making the right decisions at the right time.

While it was previously impossible to unite different companies in a single negotiation, today the community negotiates in days what used to take months — with savings exceeding 20%, long-term contracts, and direct participation from manufacturers.

The new Supply Chain is collaborative, intelligent, and grounded in consistent master data. And the future points to a continuous expansion of this community, as more and more companies realize that true power lies in the collective .