Every day, an average of 10 billion barcodes are scanned. 10 billion! That’s more than daily Google searches. Think about it: 10 billion times a day, a GS1 compliant barcode tells a system what it needs to know about the product it’s printed on, tagged with, or attached to. And soon, a new generation of GS1 2D barcodes will share significantly more information.
The traditional barcode contains a GTIN (Global Trade Identifier Number). Every player in a product’s value chain adheres to this standard, using the GTIN to identify the product. Supermarket scanners read the barcode, extract the GTIN, and GS1’s Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) provides the product’s master data.
Imagine the barcode evolving like a business card evolving into a LinkedIn profile. My old business card gave basic information. Today, my LinkedIn profile provides a detailed overview of my work, experience, and current responsibilities. Similarly, GS1 2D barcodes will allow brands to share richer, higher-quality information, empowering consumers to make informed decisions. This benefits not only consumers but also store clerks (for better customer service), quality teams (for enhanced recall management), and marketing (for stronger customer relationships).
One code for multiple purposes
GS1 is a non-profit organization standardizing how businesses exchange data. This standardization is crucial for the traditional barcode’s universal functionality. GS1’s ongoing innovation has led to standards that optimize and streamline business processes. They’ve developed standards facilitating data exchange for products, logistical units, locations, vouchers, reusable assets, documents, and more.
Two standards that GS1 has developed are of particular interest to us at Kezzler:
- EPCIS (Electronic Product Code Information Services): Using a standardized vocabulary, businesses across the value chain can share the “when, what, where, why, and how” of products. This allows seamless tracking and information sharing as products move from raw materials to finished goods.
- GS1 Digital Link: This standard connects GTINs and other identifiers to online information. Product data is no longer limited to what can be embedded in the printed code.
2027: The dawn of the GS1 2D barcode era
In 2027, the CPG industry will fully adopt GS1 2D barcodes, replacing the traditional 1D barcode. This is a game-changer because 2D barcodes can hold much more data, including a URL in addition to critical GS1 identifiers like GTIN (product), LGTIN (batch/lot), and SGTIN (serialized item). Within a few years, many supermarket products will carry a digital identifier, most likely a QR code.
These QR codes, powered by GS1 standards, will be dynamic, offering tailored experiences based on language, location, or even time of year, thanks to clever URL redirection. Combining GS1 2D barcodes with batch or serialization numbers unlocks the full potential of Digital ID technology.
Retailers can leverage these codes to access traceability data, improving inventory control and enabling dynamic pricing based on factors like expiration dates.
The data journey with GS1 2D barcodes and EPCIS
When a GS1 2D barcode includes a batch or serial number, the linked data becomes more granular. Brands can link specific batch data (LGTIN) in addition to general product data (GTIN). EPCIS facilitates tracking everything that happens during a product’s journey, from raw materials to finished goods, at a granular batch level.
Enterprise-level EPCIS repositories must collect, structure, and organize EPCIS data from multiple systems. This leads to an exponential increase in data points.
The GS1 data challenge and solution
Implementing an enterprise-grade EPCIS repository capable of handling millions of events at scale and speed presents significant challenges. While GS1 provides the essential standards and tools, successful implementation requires careful planning and execution. Kezzler, along with other specialized software vendors, offers managed services to simplify this process, handling the complexities of building, hosting, and operating robust and scalable EPCIS solutions. For a deeper dive into the key considerations for EPCIS implementation, see Kezzler’s recent solution brief on the topic.
GS1 2D barcodes: a common data sharing infrastructure
Because GS1 standards are widely adopted, everyone in the CPG industry speaks the same language. EPCIS becomes the infrastructure for value chain data exchange. Suppliers can organize EPCIS data about materials, batches, and products, linking it to the physical products. This data, aggregated at the pallet or container level using SSCC codes, can be automatically shared with or requested by recipients by scanning the corresponding code.
This shift promises to eliminate paperwork and streamline data exchange, significantly impacting legislative requirements like FSMA204, EUDR, and ESPR.
Final thoughts
The adoption of GS1 2D barcodes marks a major milestone in global commerce. As businesses embrace this new standard, they will unlock unprecedented opportunities in traceability, consumer engagement, and operational efficiency.
At Kezzler, we are committed to helping brands navigate this transition, leveraging our expertise in serialization and traceability to maximize the value of GS1 2D barcodes. The future of product information sharing is here—and it’s smarter, more connected, and powered by GS1.
You might also find this interesting
- Our recent blog post “Understanding EPCIS: Benefits, event types, and serialization”
- A deeper dive into EPCIS with our solution brief “The power of GS1’s EPCIS 2.0 standard”
- Our blog post “The build vs buy debate: Why buying a connected products platform delivers”