Going by the old adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” it’s hard to imagine why the trusty barcode would ever change. With its simple system of vertical lines printed on all packaged goods, the barcode reliably does what it was designed to do more than 50 years ago: electronically identify every product and its price point with one scan for inventory management and point-of-sale transactions.

Nothing about the barcode necessarily needs to be fixed, according to GS1 US, the not-for-profit data standards organization behind the universal system of identification in the one-dimensional (1D) lines that has been used worldwide for decades.

But that doesn’t mean barcodes shouldn’t be revolutionized. Evolution of the standard is exactly what GS1 US has been working tirelessly on, in close collaboration with industry leaders, in the years-long Sunrise 2027 initiative.

To better serve brands, retailers, manufacturers, distributors, regulatory bodies—and perhaps most importantly, retail customers—GS1 is powering the adoption of two-dimensional (2D) barcodes, such as QR codes, set to be able to be universally accepted at point-of-sale (POS) by the end of 2027. The 2D barcodes will provide everyone in the packaged-goods marketplace with access to more information and product transparency—and in a more seamless way—than ever before.

2D barcodes will unlock a host of new information and features—they can include batch and lot numbers that can alert retailers and shoppers to recall information, provide access to more specific allergen and nutritional data and help with traceability. In addition, they have implications for labor savings down the line.

The effects can be dramatic, and a lot of work has been taking place with both brands and retailers. But there is still a lot more to do. For now, even though 2D barcodes offer many powerful uses, the initiative focuses on building the capability to accept 2D barcodes at point-of-sale systems that currently scan 1D codes. Establishing this foundation will then open a new world of possibilities.

“The transition to 2D barcodes can be a game-changer for c-store operators,” said GS1 US Vice President of Standards Gena Morgan, who has been with the organization for more than 25 years. “With Sunrise 2027, 2D barcodes won’t just provide price lookup, they’ll tell a story. When a consumer scans them with a smartphone, they can provide an experience. And for retailers, they offer a set of powerful, new capabilities.”

For more information on Sunrise 2027 and what it means for c-stores, check out the September 2024 issue of NACS Magazine.