We’re all used to seeing—and scanning—barcodes, which have looked the same for the last 50 years. But barcodes are undergoing a pivotal transformation, and the one-dimensional barcode made up of vertical lines will soon be rendered obsolete. Sunrise 2027, an initiative led by GS1, the not-for-profit data standards organization, will usher in the era of 2D barcodes (like QR codes) that will have much more functionality than just completing transactions at point of sale.

In addition to connecting UPC to a price for transactions, in the future 2D barcodes can link to websites giving consumers more information from manufacturers, including allergen information or more in-depth ingredient lists, and track batch and lot numbers for inventory management, expiration date tracking, and recalls.

“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.”

But 1D barcodes won’t just disappear overnight. The goal with Sunrise 2027 is that all points of sale will be able to scan and process a transaction with a 2D barcode by the end of 2027, and there will likely be a grace period where manufacturers will include both 1D and 2D barcodes on packaging—many in fact are already doing this today.

What Will 2D Barcodes Do?

2D barcodes contain web links, which means they can offer a wealth of additional information beyond price and item number when scanned, bringing consumers more granular data and product transparency. Some key future use cases include:

  • Batch and lot numbers: A barcode could contain data about batch and lot numbers, so it could identify the brand and size of a carton of milk, for example. “When 2D barcodes have the expiration date encoded in them, you’ll know which cartons of milk from the same brand are set to expire without having to find and read smudgy printing,” Morgan explained.

  • Food safety and recalls: The batch and lot numbers will also aid in mitigating food safety concerns. In the event of a recall, having this information in a machine-readable format means only impacted units could be pulled from shelves, rather than throwing out the entire stock of that product.

  • More information for consumers: 2D barcodes can link to a product certificate and its data, as well as safety instructions, more complex nutritional data, allergen information, and other ingredient disclosures. That deeper level of info benefits consumers, who are increasingly seeking a breadth of information about what they buy.

How to Prepare

GS1 emphasizes that the change will come in phases, which retailers should think of as “crawl, walk, run.” The crawl phase is just the basic assumption that manufacturers will include QR codes or other types of 2D barcodes on almost all CPGs by the end of 2027, and that retailers will be able to scan that type of code at the register to bring up a price and conduct a transaction. The “walk” and “run” phases will include more complex capabilities and benefits like the ones described above.

For now, retailers should start by talking to their solutions providers to figure out the specific steps needed to ensure POS systems can accept 2D barcodes.

For the most part, the change shouldn’t require new equipment, and most retailers can already scan 2D barcodes at the register. The extra step will be in connecting that 2D scanning capability with the store’s pricing data, said Carrie Wilkie, senior vice president, standards and technology for GS1 US. “Point number one for a retailer to be successful is to work with their solution provider to understand what it will take to get that 2D barcode tied to the price lookup file so that when it’s scanned, it looks at the price associated with it, tracks that as a sale and allows you to make a transaction,” said Wilkie. It’s important to start those conversations now.

GS1 also offers numerous resources for operators for how to prepare, including guides for how to get started, workshops, and test kits to evaluate your systems.

While you’re here at the NACS Show, don’t miss the session “A New Dimension in Barcodes?! Preparing for Sunrise 2027” on Monday, October 7 at 2:30 p.m. The conversation, led by Conexxus’ Linda Toth and featuring GS1’s Gena Morgan and John Phillips of PepsiCo, will prepare retailers for the Sunrise 2027 timeline and how to leverage these new capabilities across their organizations.

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