Building Release 25.0 Together - A Look Inside the SCSN Release Process
From Feedback to Innovation
The release process began with gathering insights from the field. Through Semantic Treehouse and working groups, input was collected from service providers and end users. This input is part of a continuous improvement cycle. For this release, we chose to bundle a large number of those points and address them in a focused way.
"We rolled up our sleeves together to honour all outstanding requests and questions," says Guido Budziak (TNO). "Any ambiguities, especially in definitions and documentation, have been resolved. That makes the standard more robust."
In dedicated workshops, technical and functional details were refined. This was followed by development sprints where everything was built, tested, and prepared for go-live.
"This approach ensures a smooth release and maintains backward compatibility so companies won't be disrupted," explains Adriaan van Kalkeren (SCSN). "We focused as a group on standardisation and continuity."
A Release by and for the Community
The SCSN principle: by and for companies. Working closely together to define priorities and realise them collectively. That's what makes this release and collaboration special. Across various committees - from roadmap to technical - content, prioritisation, and execution were shaped. Everyone had a voice: service providers, companies using SCSN, and experts. Not top-down, but together.
"The beauty is that improvements aren't imposed from above," says Stijn Murrer (Supplydrive). "They come from real-world practice. Companies share their challenges, and we solve them together."
"We started with a long list of improvement points," recalls Laurens Meijering (SCSN). "Some were simple, others complex - like price calculations. The most important thing is that we got everyone moving again and restored flow in the processes."
Adding PCF: Ready for the Future Together
In addition to improvements in existing messages, Release 25.0 includes a major expansion: the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) message. This addition was prepared in a dedicated working group and then aligned within the SCSN community.
"There's a strong desire to share CO₂ data digitally," says Sasan Adami (ISAH). "We developed this together, and from this release onwards, suppliers can communicate that information via SCSN."
"It's essential to keep up with new legislation," he adds. "By starting with PCF now, SCSN shows it's thinking ahead."
The PCF message is a first step toward the digital product passport and aligns with future regulations such as CSRD. This step, along with other innovations, was made possible with financial support from the Province of North Brabant.
What Does This Mean for Users?
For companies already using SCSN, this release provides a more stable foundation. More standardisation, greater clarity, and improved documentation. For companies not yet connected, it shows that SCSN continues to evolve - together with the people who use it.
"We've ensured that price agreements, process handling, and documentation are now so clear that everyone can use them in a consistent and standardised way," says Adriaan. "That's a huge step forward."
"We're on the right track," concludes Sasan. "We've laid a solid foundation and shown we're ready for the future."
§ Pride from the Community
Beyond technical improvements, much has been achieved in terms of collaboration. That's reflected in the pride of those involved:
- Adriaan van Kalkeren (SCSN): "Together, we've strengthened the community. Collaboration, trust, and quality have all been elevated."
- Sasan Adami (ISAH): "For me, the clarity around order changes is the highlight of this release. We initiated that together and resolved it harmoniously."
- Stijn Murrer (Supplydrive): "The best part is that improvements come from practice. That makes the standard stronger and more widely supported."
- Laurens Meijering (SCSN): "I'm proud that we've found our rhythm again. The working groups are active, engagement is high, and we're truly building the future together."
- Guido Budziak (TNO): "What makes me most proud is that as a community, we've not only implemented technical improvements but also strengthened the foundation for what's yet to come."