A report from PlasticsToday highlights that the retail industry is undergoing a major transition as QR codes begin replacing traditional 1D barcodes. This shift, considered the biggest in retail identification technology in decades, aims to provide greater data storage and interactive capabilities at the point of sale.

"The transition to 2D barcodes will fundamentally reshape retail, but it will take years because retailers and manufacturers must upgrade everything from POS systems to production-line printers and data workflows," said Anthony Blears, Director of Barcodes Philippines. "The free IBN Link service we offer enables customers to generate GS1 Digital Link landing pages from their existing GTINs, bridging the gap during the transition."

The move aligns with global standards updates from GS1, which now supports 2D barcodes like QR codes as carriers for digital links. Unlike linear barcodes that hold limited product identification, QR codes can embed URLs, batch numbers, expiration dates, and more, enabling traceability and direct consumer engagement via smartphones.

Retailers and manufacturers are expected to gradually adopt the technology, with some already printing both 1D and 2D codes during the transition. The shift promises to streamline supply chain operations while opening new possibilities for product authentication and marketing.