As we navigate the aisles of our local supermarkets, we’re accustomed to the familiar beep of items being scanned at the checkout. For over half a century, this sound has been synonymous with the traditional barcodes that adorn our products. But prepare for a significant shift in your shopping experience. A new era is dawning, and it’s set to revolutionise the way we interact with every item on supermarket shelves.
The humble barcode, a retail staple since its first scan on June 26, 1974, is undergoing a transformation that promises to empower consumers like never before. GS1, the non-profit organisation responsible for the global standard of barcodes, is introducing 2D barcodes, akin to the QR codes we’ve become increasingly familiar with in recent times.
This change isn’t just a minor tweak; it’s a leap forward in consumer information accessibility. Imagine picking up a product, scanning it with your smartphone, and instantly receiving a wealth of information. From dietary content to potential allergens such as gluten or sodium, the new 2D barcodes will provide insights that were previously unavailable at a glance.
But why the change after all these years? The original 1D barcodes, with their vertical lines of varying widths, could only store up to seven data points, including the item’s name, manufacturer, type, size, colour, weight, and price. This limited information made inventory management and ordering a cumbersome process, often requiring physical counts and individual orders.
The new 2D barcodes, however, are a game-changer. They can store much more data, enhancing not only inventory management for retailers but also offering consumers a deeper understanding of the products they purchase. Anne Godfrey, chief executive of GS1 UK, sums it up well: ‘The old barcodes do what they say on the tin — they go beep, tell you the price and get you out of the store. But today’s consumers want much more information about the products they buy.’
The 2D barcodes will confirm the supply chain, ensuring that the Western Australian lobster you’re buying is indeed from Western Australia and not substituted with an import. This level of transparency will help keep suppliers honest and reduce the prevalence of fraudulent or counterfeit products.
And it’s not just supermarkets that will see this change. Virtually every product, from high-value items like Indigenous art and luxury handbags to everyday groceries, will eventually feature these informative 2D barcodes. While we might not scan every item we place in our carts, the option to do so will be there, enabling us to make more informed decisions.
The rollout of these new barcodes has already begun in Australia, with certain products in big supermarkets sporting the new look. This is particularly evident in the meat and deli sections, where the enhanced traceability can pinpoint the exact source and processing details of items, a crucial feature during product recalls.
Over the next few years, we can expect to see this technology spread across all products, phasing out the original 1D barcodes. The global transition is anticipated to be complete by 2027, so keep an eye out for these new codes on your next shopping trip.
What are your thoughts on this new technology? Have you noticed 2D barcodes on products during your shopping trips? If so, did you find the additional information useful? Share your experiences and insights in the comments—we’d love to hear how this change is shaping your shopping journey!
Also read: Is Woolworths’ new Scan&Go system worth it? We tried it out
Will these new barcodes also state whether the product includes details of whether it has religious certifications and what religion it is ?
I assume the bronze anzac is referrring as to whether the meat is a Halal product, or Kosher for another religion