At GS1 General Assembly held in Mumbai, GS1, the global non-profit standards organisation behind the original barcode, announced that Next-Generation QR Codes will be introduced globally starting 2027 to improve product traceability, consumer transparency, and supply chain safety.
Key Highlights
Transition Timeline:
- Full global rollout by 2027
- Currently under testing in 3 countries, including Australia
- India’s rollout will depend on manufacturer readiness
New Formats:
- GS1 QR Code
- GS1 DataMatrix
- POS Upgrade Requirement: Will replace traditional 1D barcodes with 2D formats (QR Codes). Businesses must update packaging, inventory, and billing systems to support 2D codes.
Dual-Code Transition Phase:
- Products will initially feature both traditional barcodes and new QR codes
- Final shift to QR-only packaging once POS systems are upgraded
Features & Benefits of New QR Code System
| Feature | Benefit |
| Structured Data Encoding | Beyond price & identity- includes expiry date, source, recall info, recall alerts, and more |
| Smartphone Compatibility | Scannable by cameras; no need for specialized scanners |
| Supports AI & Blockchain Integration | Real-time tracking, secure data sharing |
| Real-time Inventory Management | Enhances supply chain operations and transparency; Helps in authenticating products and monitoring supply chains |
| Authentication & Safety | Helps verify product authenticity and safety |
| Consumer-Centric | Provides accessible product info with a single scan |
- Manufacturers to update:
- Product packaging
- Point-of-Sale (POS) systems
- Inventory and logistics software
- Current barcodes remain valid during the transition
- GS1 is engaging stakeholders to upgrade systems globally
About GS1
| GS1 (Global Standards One) | Description |
| Nature | Non-profit international standards body |
| Founded | Introduced barcodes ~50 years ago |
| Reach | Present in 118 countries, over 2 million businesses supported |
| Usage | 10+ billion barcode scans daily |
| Sectors | Retail, healthcare, agriculture, logistics, etc. |
| Funding | Operates on membership fees, not product sales |
Comparison: Barcode vs QR Code
| Feature | Barcode (1D) | QR Code (2D) |
| Structure | Lines (horizontal only) | Matrix, Square pattern (horizontal + vertical) |
| Data Capacity | Limited to product ID | High; Supports rich data: expiry, batch no., etc. |
| Introduced | 1973 (UPC) | 1994 by Masahiro Hara |
| Uses | Retail pricing, inventory, logistics | Widely used in UPI, product verification, ticketing, packaging |
| Scanning Device | Barcode scanner | Smartphone or scanner; |