The saying goes that “if it ain't broke, don't change it”, and if there is one element that represents this philosophy very well, it is the barcode. Nearly half a century of use has shown it to be the best system for controlling the supply and sales chain; But the arrival of new technologies such as QR codes also shows that there is great potential that is not being exploited.
Therefore, in just two years, the industry is expected to adopt a new standard, which will provide more possibilities and will be fully compatible with smartphones and portable devices. This is a very ambitious project, but GS1, the non-profit organization responsible for maintaining and developing communication standards in supply chain and logistics, believes it is time to take the next step. not.
In fact, this means that the traditional barcode will be replaced for a new version, which will store more data in printed form that can be scanned to reveal relevant product, package or shipping information. And the key will lie in a new design, which will make the jump from one dimension to two dimensions.
The current barcode is 1D, meaning it has only one dimension, the horizontal axis; The reader detects the thickness of the bars, the distance between them and their size to obtain the information, usually a series of numbers that identifies the object in question using a database. The new solution in which the GS1 works It is 2D, that is to say it has two axes: horizontal and vertical.
In practice, this means that information will be displayed not only linearly, but also vertically; the result should be similar to QR codeswhich are a 2D version of barcodes, with a square or rectangle made up of several individual points; The position, size and distance of the dots will represent the stored data, which may be more than in a traditional barcode.
It should be noted, however, that GS1 has not confirmed that QR codes will replace traditional barcodes; although it is obvious that the new standard will have similarities and will probably be inspired by this technology. Likewise, the new standard will be Designed from the ground up to work with smartphones and other technological devices, rather than with dedicated devices such as laser scanners.
Proof of the influence of QR codes, and smartphones in general, on this decision, GS1 itself confirms that one of the motivations for changing barcodes is found in the recent popularity of QR codes; According to a recent study, 79% of consumers prefer to purchase products with a barcode or QR code that can scan with mobile and offer you additional information.
This additional information is increasingly important when purchasing, since 62% of consumers say they are willing to spend more money on a product if it offers detailed information. A new standard, which allows you to scan the code and get this information directly to your mobile phone, is the answer to this demand.
Another interesting utility is the ability to include expiration date in code; Not only will this be useful to the consumer, but it will allow the store to receive notifications in its system when a product is close to its expiration date, allowing discounts to be added without the need for a new code. The barcode replacement project is ambitious. GS1's goal is to achieve mass adoption by 2027, in just two years, as part of its Sunrise 2027 initiative.
