Technology is playing an increasingly important role in combating illicit trade, according to Johann Joubert, CEO of Converge Group of Companies. The World Economic Forum estimates the global value of illicit trade and transnational activities at between 8% and 15% of global GDP, reaching as high as $12 trillion in 2014. To put this into context, this was approximately the size of China’s total economic output in that same year, said Joubert. “Technology to augment and aid supply chain integrity is affordable, reliable and accessible.” He said technology had started to make such an impact in the fight against illicit trade that there was now increased demand for solutions that offered higher levels of security or deeper levels of marking or coding. “This involves capsule or tablet marking rather than just on the primary packaging of a box,” he explained. “Other options are UV inks and coatings for covert markings as well as food grade inks for marking edible goods such as fruit and vegetables.
