What is tamper-evident technology ?

Product security and authenticity are becoming increasingly crucial in a global marketplace plagued by grey market and counterfeit goods. 

With consumer trust hanging in the balance, issues around product tampering are driving a growing need to protect products and customers from malicious practices.

In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into tamper-evident technologies, the benefits they offer, and their limitations. We’ll also look at other technology that provides a better solution.  

The different types of anti-counterfeiting technology

As counterfeiters develop more sophisticated means of infringing on the intellectual property of reputable brands, businesses are increasingly exploring the range of anti-counterfeiting technologies available.

These tamper-evident solutions are generally divided into the categories of overt and covert. 

Overt solutions directly inform the consumer that a product isn’t in the same state it left to factory. Meanwhile, covert tamper-evident solutions work subtly in the background to identify and prevent unauthorised replication or alteration of the product.

Overt anti-counterfeiting solutions work by providing clear, physical evidence that tampering has occurred. This might be through seals, labels, or security tapes that are disturbed or destroyed when tampering happens.

Covert solutions on the other hand can't be detected from looking at the product or packaging. They might use unique product identifiers or embedded technology like invisible ink, holograms, or RFID tags. 

While these solutions are less obtrusive, they often need to interact with special tools or software to provide evidence of tampering.

Another definition we need to make is that between tamper-evident, tamper-proof, and tamper-resilient technology. Here’s what you need to know: 

• Tamper-evident shows consumers that a product has been interfered with.
• Tamper-proof prevents tampering by designing the packaging or product to be extremely difficult to alter without detection
• Tamper-resilient resists tampering efforts without impacting the aesthetics and function of the product.

The different types of tamper-evident solutions

The sort of tamper-evident solution companies use depends on the kind of product or packing and how secure it needs to be. Here’s a list of common types.

Seals

Tamper-evident seals are widely used on packaging. These include shrink bands, breakable seals, or destructible tamper-tapes. These will display clear evidence if the packaging has been opened by an unauthorised person. You’ll normally see these on food, pharmaceuticals, or electronics.

Labels

Tamper-evident labels use technology like security printing, holographics, or QR codes to verify authenticity. These are put on packaging and show a clear mark if somebody tries to alter or remove them. 

Indicators

Tamper-evident indicators are used for sensitive items like electronics or even confidential documents. They change colour or show a hidden message when tampered with, showing damage or unauthorised access. 

The pros and cons of tamper-evident technology

Tamper-evident technologies offer a simple way to provide visible indication of interference to consumers and can boost confidence in the product's integrity. 

However, tamper-evident technology also has its downsides. These include:

• Solutions like seals and labels can be replicated or bypassed by more skilled counterfeiters. 
• They only focus on the point of sale and lack broader supply chain tracking capabilities to combat issues like grey market sales. 
• These solutions can impact the experience of actual genuine buyers by making products more of a hassle to access. 

A solution to strengthen your defences 

Businesses need to explore a wider range of solutions to combat counterfeiting and unauthorised access to products. It’s also increasingly vital to track product and consumer data beyond the initial point of sale to understand how consumers are interacting with products. 

Unlike tamper-proof stickers that can be easily forged or bypassed, modern solutions like NFC chips can hold unique, encrypted data that both consumers and manufacturers can use to verify authenticity and build trust.

Their easy access through widely available smartphones and integration with technologies like blockchain also ensure the data held within is immutable and can’t be replicated or altered by malicious parties. Using these solutions alongside tamper-evident technology allows you to protect your brand further.

Introducing Authentify It 

Authentify It is an all-in-one solution designed to protect products from tampering and counterfeiting while tracking them throughout the entire supply chain.

Consumers can instantly verify authenticity while engaging in new ways with their favourite brands. 
 

Book a discovery call today to learn more.