Supply-chain standards organization GS1 US has released a Barcode Capabilities Test Kit to help retailers gauge their readiness for the 2027 shift from linear Universal Product Codes (UPCs) to new data-rich 2D barcodes on product packaging.
The phaseout of UPCs and the implementation of data-rich product codes has been targeted to be completed in a migration plan called “Sunrise 2027 – A New Dimension in Barcodes.”
GS1 USs aid the test kit will help evaluate a retailer’s ability to scan and process 2D barcodes at point of sale (POS) as well as to support stocking and receiving functions in warehouses and distribution centers.
Although the UPC barcode has provided price lookup functionality for decades, the standard needs to be improved for the digital age, as consumers have increased demand for more product information transparency, traceability, and authentication, according to GS1 US.
“Global retailers, brands and solution providers have been moving toward the use of 2D barcodes to provide consumers with detailed product information and transparency,” Carrie Wilke, senior vice president, GS1 US, said in a statement. “However, there are many other supply chain benefits,” she explained, citing that “a single 2D barcode conveys limitless information in a machine-readable format.”