Separating the real from the fake

During a work trip to China more than a decade ago, Mr Ng Guankai fell victim to fake alcohol.

After a night out drinking with and entertaining clients, he found out that the alcohol he had consumed was fake. After finding he was duped, he ended up with headaches during the trip. It was an encounter that left an indelible memory.

The unpleasant experience, along with news of children in China being sickened by counterfeit milk formula and other items around that time, convinced him to found a company in 2016 to help people check the authenticity of the products they buy.

Today, Nabcore offers a suite of solutions to protect and track a wide range of products, from over-the-counter medicine to car parts. Each product can be given a digital identity, like a birth certificate for people, that can be counterchecked by a buyer.

It helps manufacturers of retail food products, apparel and luxury goods root out imitation products, or even those from an outsourced factory that tries to sell over-runs of products illegally.

Nabcore also works with pharmaceutical companies to track and authenticate medical devices and over-the-counter medicine, by helping to certify products along the supply chain, for example.

Industrial products are another key focus, as Nabcore works with manufacturers of cars, electronics and building supplies to make sure fake products do not get sold on the market and cause accidents or endanger users.

"Contrary to popular belief, counterfeiting is not a victimless crime," says Mr Ng, Nabcore's director for business development.

"It causes loss of jobs and revenue, and damage to public health," he stresses.

Nabcore is an Honouree in the Brands for Good 2021/2022 awards, under the Technology for Good category.

Countering fakes during a pandemic

Today, Nabcore's mission is even more important, given the fake masks and other healthcare products that have flooded the market during the Covid-19 pandemic.

To make matters worse, disruptions to global supply chains have led to shortages in items such as masks, which opens up an opportunity for unscrupulous buyers to peddle fraudulent products.

Yet, this has also made the Nabcore team more determined to succeed as a business as well as a force for good.

Instead of relying on a single technology to protect and track products, Nabcore uses customised and multifaceted solutions that easily verify genuine products, track the supply chain and engage consumers.

For example, a holographic security label with security codes can act as a product seal. Or it can be incorporated directly onto a product or its packaging.

Consumers can easily verify the item visually or scan the product with their smartphones. The key lies in the ease of authentication, something which Mr Ng says even his 76-year-old mother can do despite not being a techie.

"By giving each physical product a digital identity (just like our ID), we help consumers authenticate purchases, gain relevant product information and allow companies to track their products," he explained.

"We believe all brand owners need to be able to prevent loss of rightful revenue and also gain insights to drive business growth in our complex world today."

Partnering fellow Singapore companies

For Singapore companies venturing abroad, especially to markets where counterfeits are common, Nabcore works with them to get the genuine items to real buyers.

"In several cases, there were order volumes that did not meet the minimum order requirements for project implementation," says Mr Ng.

"Despite that, we found ways to support these small businesses to ensure that their products are well protected. We worked through it by giving a generic solution or providing them with instalment payment plans."

Nabcore also faces its own challenges, such as the lack of awareness in Asia of protecting intellectual property and the disruptions caused by the pandemic, but Mr Ng believes in making sure the technology makes a difference.

"Creating positive impact for others is within our means so long as we make a conscientious effort in our daily life and work," he says. "Even a simple smile helps to brighten the day for you and the receiver."