Implementations of methods of sharing data in a supply chain, the data corresponding to an item having a tag associated therewith, include generating data corresponding to the item, generating a data reference, encrypting the data using an encryption key to provide encrypted data, transmitting the encrypted data over a network for storage in a database based on the data reference, writing the data reference and the encryption key to the tag, and transferring the item to a successor in the supply chain. Implementations include retrieving information electronically stored on the tag, the information comprising a data reference and an encryption key, transmitting a data request over a network for retrieving encrypted data from a database, the data request comprising the data reference, receiving the encrypted data from the database, and decrypting the encrypted data using the encryption key to provide decrypted data.