By Alloys Musyoka
A new generation barcode with two dimensional QR codes is about to hit the market promising to change lives in new ways as GS1 barcode turned 50 years old on 3 April 2023 since its introduction to the market.
According to information sent to Coast Times the new codes can capture unprecedented amounts of trusted data for businesses, regulators, consumers, and patients alike, offering much more than just links to webpages.
Also the codes can tell a product’s “story”, where it comes from, if it contains allergens, is organic, how it can be recycled-and what its environmental footprint is.
“This new level of transparency will ultimately help people make smart decisions about what they buy and use,” reads the statement to the media.
The non-profit organization that provides global standards for efficient business communication improves the efficiency, safety and visibility of supply chains across physical and digital channels in 25 sectors.
They enable organizations of all types and sizes to identify, capture and share information seamlessly.
Their scale and reach- local Member Organizations in 116 countries, more than 2 million user companies and 6 billion transactions every day helps to ensure that GS1 standards create a common language that supports systems and processes across the globe.
GS1 is building a coalition of industry leaders to deploy next generation barcodes around the world to usher in the new reality.
GS1 says that there is a need to replicate the ambition of the leaders who in 1973 came together for the common good.
At the end of 2020, GS1 launched a global initiative to transition from traditional to next generation barcodes together with key players in the retail sector.
There are over 20 countries and districts including China, US, Australia and Brazil that have already started successful pilots on the same.
The GS1 barcode is globally-recognized and ready for new business having experienced fifty years of the barcode transformation on how things are bought and sold.
GS1, the organization behind the barcode, has evolved over the last five decades, from a standards organization towards a standards and services organization currently present in 116 markets.
The non-profit organization is empowering businesses of all sizes to take their digital transformation journey to the next level, ultimately benefiting consumers and patients.
