Frequently Asked Questions

SourceValidate is a product authenticity verification platform. Manufacturers generate unique QR codes for their products, and consumers scan those codes with their smartphone to instantly confirm whether a product is genuine.

No. Consumers simply use their phone's built-in camera to scan the QR code. The verification page opens directly in the mobile browser — no app download required.

Each product is assigned a unique, cryptographically secure QR code. When a consumer scans the code, our system checks it against the database and shows one of four results: a green VERIFIED result with full product and manufacturer details for a genuine item; a red UNVERIFIED warning when the code isn’t found, indicating the product may be counterfeit; an EXPIRED notice when the product has passed its expiration date and its code has been retired; and a SUSPENDED notice when a code shows signs of duplication or tampering and has been temporarily locked for review.

SourceValidate works for any industry where product authenticity matters — including beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, electronics, automotive parts, and consumer goods. Any physical product that can carry a QR code label can be verified.

After creating your account, log in to the SourceValidate dashboard. Enter your manufacturer details, batch number, serial number, and an optional expiration date, then click “Generate.” You’ll receive a unique QR code as a downloadable PNG image ready for printing on your product packaging. If you set an expiration date, the code is automatically retired when the product expires.

Yes. Every scan records a timestamp and the city/region where it occurred (with the consumer's permission). You can view the complete scan history for each product, helping you identify distribution patterns and potential counterfeit hotspots.

You assign batch and serial numbers when generating QR codes. These numbers become part of the unique product identifier and are displayed on the verification page. This helps organize your products and maintain full provenance records.

Producers set the manufacturing and expiration dates for each product. By default, once a product passes its expiration date its code is automatically retired — a scan then shows a clear notice that the product has expired and is no longer in circulation, and the code can no longer be used to verify authenticity. Producers who prefer can instead keep a code verifiable after expiry, in which case the scan still succeeds but clearly flags the product as expired.

A code’s lifespan is tied to the product’s expiration date. When a producer sets an expiration date, the code stays valid through the end of that day and is then automatically retired and removed from circulation — it can no longer be scanned to verify the product. Products without an expiration date have no lifespan, so their codes remain valid indefinitely. Auto-retiring at expiration is on by default, but producers can turn it off to keep a code verifiable after the product expires.

Full deployment takes approximately 4 weeks. Week 1: Discovery & Scoping. Week 2: System Integration & Training. Week 3: Pilot Run with limited batches. Week 4+: Full Rollout to production volume. Our team provides dedicated support at every stage.

Our Anti-Duplication Engine detects when the same code is scanned from multiple locations or at suspicious frequencies. The system flags the duplication, warns consumers that the product may not be authentic, and pinpoints the geographic location of the suspected fraud for your team to investigate.

SourceValidate is built entirely on AWS with enterprise-grade security. All data is encrypted in transit (HTTPS everywhere) and at rest. API access is protected by JWT-based authentication through Amazon Cognito. Each organization's data is isolated in a multi-tenant architecture.

All verification data is stored in Amazon DynamoDB within AWS’s secure cloud infrastructure, with QR codes generated on demand. The platform is served globally through Amazon CloudFront CDN for fast access from anywhere in the world.

Scan data (including geolocation and scan history) is only visible on the public verification page when a consumer scans the QR code. Detailed analytics and organization-level data are only accessible to authenticated team members within your organization.

Absolutely. The beverage and water sector is one of our primary focus areas. Counterfeit and refilled water bottles are a serious health risk. SourceValidate allows consumers to verify that each bottle is factory-sealed and original before consumption.

Yes. Fake pharmaceuticals are one of the most dangerous forms of counterfeiting. SourceValidate provides a layer of consumer-facing verification that complements existing regulatory compliance measures. Each medicine unit can carry its own unique verification code.

SourceValidate is designed for any physical product that can carry a QR code label. FMCG brands, cosmetics companies, automotive parts manufacturers, and electronics brands all benefit from giving their consumers a simple way to confirm product authenticity.

Yes. While SourceValidate works globally, it was specifically designed to handle the unique logistical realities of the African manufacturing sector. The zero-friction approach (no app required, works on any smartphone) is critical for markets where data costs are high and app adoption can be a barrier.

Yes. The demo plan is free and includes up to 5 QR codes per account with scan analytics — ideal for evaluating the platform. When you’re ready for production, the Executive plan is pay-as-you-go: you simply pay for the codes you generate, with no monthly minimum.

Yes. You can move from the free demo to the pay-as-you-go Executive plan whenever you’re ready, and all your existing QR codes and verification records remain intact. Because the Executive plan is pay-as-you-go, there are no long-term commitments or billing-cycle lock-ins.

We accept all major credit cards and bank transfers, and can arrange custom invoicing for higher-volume Executive accounts. Contact our sales team for specific payment arrangements.