Barcodes are going away. Something better is coming
Barcodes have the advantage of making trade incredibly efficient. Unfortunately, their life is slowly coming to an end. They are becoming obsolete, and new technology will soon replace them.
New codes offer a range of completely new possibilities.
Barcodes – where did they come from?
Barcodes appeared in 1949when Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver designed the first working system that eventually became the world’s universal Universal Product Code (UPC). The technology officially entered permanent circulation 25 years later. The memorable date is 1974, when a pack of Wrigley chewing gum was scanned for the first time in an American store. And so it began. It means one thing – We have been using them for 50 years, so they had the right to get old.
The system has been developing continuously over the years, introducing newer and newer variants. The codes have a number of advantages – they are used for error-free and quick identification of products, which is extremely useful in trade, logistics, inventory management, etc. They speed up customer service at checkouts and reduce the risk of human errors.
What to use instead of barcodes?
The Tagesschau service and GS1 inform that we will gradually move to two-dimensional codes such as QR codes. The new code offers more possibilities than the traditional barcode. First of all, it is able to redirect the user to the product’s website. This way, we will gain more information about use, maintenance and recycling. And also to promotions and competitions on the manufacturer’s website. Some companies are already implementing the new technology. As many as 80% of retailers already have special scanners at cash registers. It looks like the spread of new codes will happen faster than we think.
See: You’ll turn it on on your phone as soon as it appears. It’ll end the gymnastics with codes
