Open Credentialing Initiative
The Open Credentialing Initiative (OCI) is a nonprofit collaborative industry organization that maintains open interoperability specifications using W3C Decentralized Identifiers and Verifiable Credentials to enable U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain Authorized Trading Partner verification under DSCSA.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersNewton Ground, St. Kitts & Nevis
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Open Credentialing Initiative firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Open Credentialing Initiative
- Legal name
- Open Credentialing Initiative
- Website
- https://oc-i.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Open Credentialing Initiative (OCI) is a nonprofit collaborative industry organization that maintains open interoperability specifications using W3C Decentralized Identifiers and Verifiable Credentials to enable U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain Authorized Trading Partner verification under DSCSA.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Open Credentialing Initiative industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Compliance
- NAICS
- Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Interoperability Standards, Profiles & Implementation (HL7/FHIR/IHE) (HLACABAA)
Keywords
Where Open Credentialing Initiative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newton Ground
- HQ country
- St. Kitts & Nevis
Offices1 record
Markets served
Open Credentialing Initiative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Contributions: OCI is a non-profit collaborative industry group. There are no membership fees for trading partners. Service costs are set by the individual service providers within the OCI ecosystem, not by OCI itself.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | No membership cost for trading partners |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Open Credentialing Initiative product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OCI develops and maintains an open interoperability framework — the OCI DSCSA Interoperability Profile — that enables pharmaceutical supply chain trading partners to electronically verify each other's Authorized Trading Partner (ATP) status under the U.S. Drug Supply Chain Security Act. The framework comprises Conformance Program criteria, Credential Issuer criteria, Digital Wallet criteria, VRS criteria, credential schemas, and OpenAPI specifications built on W3C Decentralized Identifiers and Verifiable Credentials. OCI also operates the OCI Marketplace, an online directory listing OCI-conformant solution providers (VRS Providers, Digital Wallet providers, Credential Issuers) for self-service discovery by trading partners.
Product overview
The Open Credentialing Initiative (OCI) is a collaborative non-profit industry initiative that provides an open framework of specifications, conformance criteria, and trust frameworks for digital credentialing in the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain under DSCSA. The core offering is the OCI DSCSA Interoperability Profile, which comprises six integrated components: Conformance Program (monitoring adherence), Credential Issuer Conformance Criteria, Digital Wallet Conformance Criteria, VRS Conformance Criteria, Credential Schemas (Identity, ATP, ATP Equivalent, Authority), and the Digital Wallet Provider OpenAPI Specification. The ecosystem includes an OCI Marketplace listing OCI-aligned service providers (VRS Providers, Digital Wallets, Credential Issuers), technical architecture documentation, and educational resources. The framework enables interoperability among trading partners using W3C Verifiable Credentials and Decentralized Identifiers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- OCI DSCSA Interoperability Profile Comprehensive technical specification defining conformance criteria, credential schemas, and API requirements for implementing DSCSA Authorized Trading Partner credentialing across the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain. Built on W3C Decentralized Identifiers and Verifiable Credentials with GS1 messaging integration, NIST Level 2 identity proofing, and OpenAPI specifications. Used by credential issuers, digital wallet providers, VRS providers, and trading partners to enable interoperable electronic ATP verification.
- OCI Marketplace Online marketplace directory enabling pharmaceutical supply chain trading partners to discover OCI-conformant solution providers for self-service evaluation and contact. Lists conformant VRS Providers, Digital Wallet providers, Credential Issuers, and broader Solution Providers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 10,000 pharmacy locations encompassed in OCI credential ecosystem as of January 2025
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Open Credentialing Initiative
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Open Credentialing Initiative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Open Credentialing Initiative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.
- Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA)coreHDA chaperones VRS providers in interoperability testing and production preparation. HDA facilitates industry collaboration and sponsors OCI events and conferences. The partnership supports industry-wide adoption of DSCSA compliance solutions.
- GS1 UScoreGS1 US published ATP credential specifications in its Implementation Guideline for DSCSA Verification of Product Identifiers. GS1 Lightweight Messaging Standard is incorporated into OCI architecture for product verification messaging.
- Partnership for DSCSA Governance (PDG)corePDG's Foundational Blueprint for 2023 Interoperability supports the use of OCI's ATP credentialing framework for verification and tracing activity. PDG submits change requests to OCI for specification updates and collaborates on tracing schema development.
- FDAcoreOCI maintains public-private partnership with FDA through PDG. OCI submitted response to FDA's request for progress reports on the DSCSA Stabilization Period and participates in PDG-FDA Town Halls on implementation efforts.
- Center for Supply Chain Studies (C4SCS)coreC4SCS is the incubator organization that brought together companies to pilot ATP credentialing in 2020. OCI was launched following the successful pilot conclusion in February 2021. C4SCS continues to support the ecosystem and hosts DSCSA Tracing Pilot programs.
- Drummond Group, LLCcoreOCI-recognized audit firm that fulfills acceptance criteria defined in OCI's Conformance Program. Drummond Group audits Credential Issuers and Digital Wallets for OCI compliance (LedgerDomain, Legisym, and Spherity have completed audits).
- SpheritycoreFounding member providing Digital Wallet solution (CARO). Spherity developed decentralized identity management technology and achieved Drummond certification for OCI Digital Wallet Conformance Criteria.
- LegisymcoreFounding member providing Credential Issuer services. First to complete OCI Credential Issuer Conformance Criteria audit through Drummond Group. Provides regulatory compliance technologies including Controlled Substance Ordering System and license verification.
- LedgerDomaincoreProvides Drummond Certified XATP digital wallet solution enabling trading partners to meet DSCSA requirements. Powers XATP (non-profit member services organization) for ATP authentication and enhanced verification.
- SAPmajorFounding member and pilot participant offering Verification Router Service. SAP Life Sciences provides automated product verification routing and supports interoperability testing across the VRS community.
- rfxcelmajorFounding member and pilot participant providing DSCSA compliance solutions and ATP credentialing integration support.
- NovartismajorFounding member and pilot participant. Representatives (Dave Mason) contributed to industry consensus on ATP interoperability and provide manufacturer perspective on supporting small dispensers.
- TraceLinkmajorVRS Provider listed in OCI Marketplace. TraceLink joined ecosystem following pilot phase and contributes to VRS conformance and interoperability efforts.
- Movilitas.CloudmajorVRS Provider listed in OCI Marketplace. Launched free mobile app (Movilitas DSCSA) for streamlined DSCSA verification using OCI-compliant credentials from LedgerDomain and Spherity.
- Trust.medsupportingSolution Provider listed in OCI Marketplace. Provides DSCSA compliance applications and supply chain data exchange solutions. Part of XATP-Spherity-Trust.med-Legisym interoperability announcement.
- XATPcoreNon-profit member services organization (powered by LedgerDomain) enabling ATP authentication. Achieved interoperability with Spherity for digital wallet services and VRS integration.
- SystechsupportingVRS Provider listed in OCI Marketplace providing DSCSA compliance solutions.
- TrackTraceRXsupportingVRS Provider listed in OCI Marketplace providing DSCSA traceability solutions.
- GatewayCheckersupportingVRS Provider listed in OCI Marketplace providing verification routing services.
- Jeckson VisionsupportingVRS Provider listed in OCI Marketplace providing verification routing services.
- OptelsupportingVRS Provider listed in OCI Marketplace providing pharmaceutical traceability solutions.
- RxScansupportingSolution Provider listed in OCI Marketplace. Co-founded by Max Peoples (pharmacy owner) providing DSCSA track and trace solutions.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Open Credentialing Initiative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- XATP: XATP is a non-profit member services organization powered by LedgerDomain that enables ATP authentication in the pharmaceutical supply chain. It is directly comparable to OCI as both are non-profit bodies serving the same DSCSA credentialing use case; XATP has achieved interoperability with Spherity for digital wallet services and VRS integration under OCI specs.
- Partnership for DSCSA Governance (PDG): PDG is a public-private partnership that develops foundational blueprints for DSCSA interoperability. It is directly comparable to OCI as both organizations set standards for pharmaceutical supply chain credentialing and tracing; PDG's Foundational Blueprint explicitly supports OCI's ATP credentialing framework, and the two organizations collaborate on tracing schema development and change requests.
- GS1 US: GS1 US is the U.S. arm of the global GS1 standards organization that publishes supply chain identification standards. It is directly comparable to OCI as both organizations publish interoperability standards adopted by U.S. pharmaceutical supply chains; GS1 US specifically published ATP credential specifications in its DSCSA Implementation Guideline that OCI's architecture incorporates.
- Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA): HDA is the U.S. pharmaceutical distribution industry association that chaperones VRS providers in interoperability testing and sponsors industry events. It is directly comparable to OCI as both organizations facilitate industry collaboration on DSCSA compliance and credentialing standards; HDA awarded OCI members its 2023 Distribution Management Award.
- Center for Supply Chain Studies (C4SCS): C4SCS is the non-profit incubator organization that initiated the ATP Credentialing Pilot in 2020 and incubated OCI's launch in 2021. It is directly comparable as a similar non-profit pharmaceutical supply chain research and pilot organization that continues to host DSCSA Tracing Pilot programs alongside OCI's credentialing work.
Broad incumbents
- SAP: SAP is a global ERP software incumbent whose SAP Life Sciences business offers Verification Router Service and is a founding OCI member. It is comparable as a major platform provider offering DSCSA compliance solutions and credentialing interoperability across the pharmaceutical supply chain through its enterprise software footprint.
Emerging players
- Spherity: Spherity is a founding OCI member providing the CARO Digital Wallet solution and decentralized identity management technology. It is comparable as a builder of credentialing infrastructure for regulated supply chains that has achieved Drummond certification for OCI Digital Wallet Conformance Criteria and won the HDA 2023 Distribution Management Award.
- LedgerDomain: LedgerDomain is a founding OCI member providing the Drummond Certified XATP digital wallet solution for pharmaceutical trading partners. It is comparable as an audited credential issuer and digital wallet provider operating under OCI's interoperability specifications and powering the XATP non-profit member services organization.
- TraceLink: TraceLink is a VRS provider listed in the OCI Marketplace offering pharmaceutical supply chain traceability and DSCSA compliance solutions. It is comparable as an ecosystem participant building on OCI's credentialing specifications to serve pharmaceutical trading partners, but operates as a commercial entity rather than as a non-profit standards body.
- Legisym: Legisym is a founding OCI member and the first to complete OCI Credential Issuer Conformance Criteria audit via Drummond Group. It is comparable as a provider of credential issuance and regulatory compliance technologies (including Controlled Substance Ordering System and license verification) operating within OCI's framework.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Open Credentialing Initiative social profiles
Digital presenceOpen Credentialing Initiative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Open Credentialing Initiative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Open Credentialing Initiative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Open Credentialing Initiative M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Open Credentialing Initiative
What does Open Credentialing Initiative do?
OCI develops and maintains an open interoperability framework — the OCI DSCSA Interoperability Profile — that enables pharmaceutical supply chain trading partners to electronically verify each other's Authorized Trading Partner (ATP) status under the U.S. Drug Supply Chain Security Act. The framework comprises Conformance Program criteria, Credential Issuer criteria, Digital Wallet criteria, VRS criteria, credential schemas, and OpenAPI specifications built on W3C Decentralized Identifiers and Verifiable Credentials. OCI also operates the OCI Marketplace, an online directory listing OCI-conformant solution providers (VRS Providers, Digital Wallet providers, Credential Issuers) for self-service discovery by trading partners.
Is Open Credentialing Initiative a public or private company?
Open Credentialing Initiative is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Open Credentialing Initiative founded?
Open Credentialing Initiative was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Open Credentialing Initiative based?
Open Credentialing Initiative is headquartered in Newton Ground, St. Kitts & Nevis.
How does Open Credentialing Initiative make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership Contributions.
Who are Open Credentialing Initiative's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are XATP, Partnership for DSCSA Governance (PDG), GS1 US, Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) and Center for Supply Chain Studies (C4SCS). SAP is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Spherity, LedgerDomain, TraceLink and Legisym.
Does Open Credentialing Initiative have an API?
Yes. The Digital Wallet Provider OpenAPI Specification (v2.0.0) enables Verifiable Presentation (VP) generation and VP verification. It includes API specifications for integration with Verification Router Service (VRS) providers, including error codes. The API is part of the OCI DSCSA Interoperability Profile which defines how VRS providers integrate with digital wallets to enable trusted interactions between requesters and responders in the pharmaceutical supply chain. Developer documentation is at open-credentialing-initiative.github.io/api-specifications/latest/index.html.
What industry is Open Credentialing Initiative in?
Open Credentialing Initiative's product category is Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Compliance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLACABAA, Interoperability Standards, Profiles & Implementation (HL7/FHIR/IHE). Its NAICS code is 541511 and its SIC code is 5122.