Once a company has set up the digital product passport for tyres, sooner or later the next question arises: how quickly can a new tyre model be added to a system that is already running? In practice, it usually takes a few working days to a couple of weeks, depending on how complete the data from the manufacturer or importer is and how your software is configured.
The lead time is divided into three parts: gathering the correct data, processing it in the passport, and testing and publishing the QR data carrier on the product. Each of these steps can individually take little time, but in practice often gets stuck at the same point: incomplete or late supplied source data.
Where the time goes
The largest part of the lead time is not in the technology, but in gathering data. For a new tyre model, it must be clear who the supplier is, which technical specifications apply, and what documentation is included. If that information has already been supplied earlier in a fixed format, a new model can be added relatively quickly. If part of the data is missing, the first step is to inquire with the manufacturer or importer, and that takes time that is not in your own process.
Next comes the processing: the data must be linked to a unique passport and to the QR code that appears on or with the tyre. Companies that have their data submission run via a fixed connection with their software supplier will notice that this part usually takes the least time. Those who still supply data manually often encounter additional rounds of checking here.
Finally, there is the publication itself: the passport must be online and the QR code must work before the product leaves the premises. This final testing is sometimes skipped in practice, with the result that an error only becomes apparent once a customer scans the code.
What slows down the lead time in practice
The most common delay occurs when a company discovers while adding a new model that its own role in the chain is not entirely clear. Is your company the supplier for this specific model, or does that responsibility lie with the manufacturer or importer you sourced from? That question really ought to be answered before the passport is drawn up, not afterwards. Anyone who only discovers this when adding a new model wastes valuable time on investigation that could have been done beforehand.
A second common cause is a change of manufacturer or supplier for the same model type. The data that was supplied for the previous model does not simply transfer to the new model, even if the product appears identical at first glance. Each new model requires its own, complete set of data.
Internal approval within a company can also take more time than the technology itself. Who needs to review the passport before it is published? At many SMEs, that responsibility is not formally assigned, so a passport sometimes sits ready for weeks without anyone releasing it.
What you can do yourself to speed up the process
The biggest time saving is in setting up a fixed submission method with your suppliers in advance, so that data for a new model comes in the same format as for previous models. A second point of gain is formally documenting internally who is responsible for releasing a new passport, so that it is not figured out ad hoc at the moment it is needed.
On how the data for a passport is created describes which steps are taken between submission and publication, and where the responsibilities lie. For those who are uncertain whether their specific situation calls for a tailored approach, it provides provides a first indication in a few questions where your business stands.
When this becomes relevant to you
The obligation to provide a digital product passport for tyres stems from European legislation whose exact date of entry into force has not yet been determined. However, companies already working with an initial series of models are finding that the question of processing time arises as soon as the assortment expands. Those who need to process multiple models simultaneously are well advised to check in good time which documents are required for this; an overview of these can be found in the knowledge base by subject. For questions about your specific situation, including the role your company plays in the supply chain, a legal adviser or the competent supervisory authority remains the appropriate point of contact.
Would you like to get an impression of where your business stands and which steps apply to you? The free quick-scan provides an initial direction in a few minutes, without requiring an account.