Barcodes have been at the heart of retail, manufacturing and logistics for more than half a century. From the first-ever beep at a supermarket checkout all the way back in 1974 to today’s complex, world-spanning supply chains, the familiar black-and-white stripes have become synonymous with efficient commerce.
But, of course, technology never stands still for too long – and barcoding is about to take another big leap forward. GS1’s Sunrise 2027 initiative is designed to encourage the adoption of 2D barcodes, transforming how products are labelled and tracked. This has implications for businesses and consumers. Let’s look at what it’ll mean in practice.
Sunrise 2027 is GS1’s initiative to drive industries towards using 2D barcodes. By the end of 2027, it’s hoped that retailers will make the switch – if they haven’t already – to POS systems that are equipped with scanners that can read both traditional barcodes and their 2D counterparts.
But why is this shift necessary? The traditional linear barcode carries only one piece of information, the Global Trade Identification Number or GTIN. A 2D barcode, by contrast, contains much more. Details such as batch and lot numbers, expiry dates, traceability information and even links to online product content can all be incorporated into a single code.
The value of 2D barcodes thus lies in the information they provide. For consumers, they can deliver instant access to product details such as allergens, provenance, sustainability credentials or authenticity checks, all from a quick scan of the packaging.
For retailers and distributors, meanwhile, 2D codes improve efficiency and visibility across supply chains. Products can be tracked more precisely at each stage, facilitating faster recalls and reducing waste. For sectors where regulatory compliance is critical, such as food and pharmaceuticals, 2D barcodes make it easier to provide the kind of transparency demanded by regulators.
For these sectors, real time printing and data control is already critical to serialisation and aggregation efforts. The linking of each serialised product to each subsequent step in the packaging chain can be enhanced by the additional data held in 2D codes.
It’s important to remember that 2027 is not a switch-off date for linear barcodes. Traditional codes will not disappear overnight. Rather, the objective is to encourage businesses to start preparing now, incorporating 2D barcodes into their operations as part of a gradual process.
GS1 is encouraging businesses to use this timeframe to experiment, test and prepare, rather than rushing to replace every linear barcode instantaneously. Those who take these steps early will not just avoid a scramble further down the line but also gain an opportunity to improve operations, compliance and customer engagement ahead of their less adaptable competitors. Also, it doesn’t require new hardware, as Sunrise 2027 affects labels and data; only software may need updating.
Even so, for many businesses, the prospect of switching to 2D barcodes probably feels like a big undertaking. The good news is that you don’t have to work the whole process out by yourself.
At Cobalt, we’ve been helping manufacturers and distributors with barcoding and labelling solutions for decades. Whether it’s printing and applying labels, upgrading hardware or integrating barcoding into stock management systems, we’re here to help you make the transition to new technologies at a pace that works for you.
We have extensive experience of printing labels using real-time data, including in the pharmaceutical industry. We also work with partners including Loftware, who are expertly equipped to cope with the changes being introduced as part of Sunrise 2027.
Our takeaway is a simple one: start planning now. The move to 2D barcodes is coming and those who adapt quickest will reap the most benefits.
To find out more about 2D barcoding or simply explore what our labelling and barcoding solutions can do for your business, get in touch with the Cobalt team today.
