50 Years Ago the First Barcode Was Scanned – The End Is Near

Half a century ago, the first barcode was scanned on a pack of chewing gum in a supermarket. This marked the beginning of a success story. Now, a new generation of barcodes is set to continue this success story and open the door to new worlds of information – for even more efficiency and transparency in international supply networks as well as greater customer loyalty and communication beyond the POS.

(Köln) The success story of the barcode began 50 years ago with a beep: On June 26, 1974, in a Marsh supermarket in the U.S. state of Ohio, the barcode was scanned on a product for the first time – it was a pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum. At that time, no one could have guessed that this technology would revolutionize trade worldwide. “A small beep at the checkout, a groundbreaking innovation for the global economy. The first scan marks the entry into the age of digitalization,” enthuses Thomas Fell, Lead GS1 Germany. In Germany, the barcode made its debut in 1977 on a spice mix.

Barcode Today and Tomorrow: Enabler for Modern POS Technologies

The barcode connects a physical product with accompanying information that is used by the involved parties in the supply networks all the way to checkout in retail. Currently, more than one billion products worldwide are marked with a barcode, and it beeps more than ten billion times a day around the globe. The BBC once counted the distinctive barcode among the “50 things that made the modern economy.” Most recently, the barcode has become an enabler for new POS technologies, such as the currently booming self-checkout systems or scan & go solutions in retail, where customers take over the scanning process themselves. Beyond retail and the consumer goods industry, many sectors – including healthcare, mechanical engineering, and the railway industry – benefit from the transparency, efficiency, and security that the barcode provides.

The Latest Generation: A Dynamic Code for Everyone and Everything

The future belongs to two-dimensional codes, such as the QR code or the GS1 DataMatrix. 2D codes are significantly more powerful than linear barcodes, such as the commonly used EAN-13 in retail, due to their complex patterns. For example, QR codes can encode more than 4,000 numeric characters and create a connection to the internet.

A 2D code becomes particularly smart when combined with the GS1 Digital Link. This new data exchange standard creates the connection from the physical product to content stored on the web. The special feature: the digital content is variable. Depending on who scans the dynamic QR code powered by GS1 at what time and place, different product information is displayed contextually. Thus, consumers can use their smartphones to learn about the origin of the product before making a purchase decision at the POS, receive usage tips at home, interact with customer service, and later access information on proper disposal. Previously, logistics professionals in the supply chain retrieved important shipping information via the same code, and retailers managed their inventory. The linked information can be adjusted at any time without having to renew the data carrier – such as the QR code – and its encoded content. One code for everyone and everything.

QR Code Replaces the Barcode

“The dynamic QR code powered by GS1 is well-prepared for the demands of rapidly advancing digitalization, the increasing information needs of consumers, and the regulatory requirements for more transparency in supply networks. Moreover, it opens up entirely new possibilities for customer loyalty and communication,” explains Thomas Fell. By 2028, it is expected to be readable at all retail checkouts worldwide. One thing will remain amidst all the innovation: the characteristic beep at the checkout.

Photo: © GS1 Germany