QR Codes to Replace Barcodes on All Products Starting 2027—GS1

Barcodes have been the global standard for products for more than 50 years. They’re finally getting a long-overdue upgrade this 2027.

GS1, the nonprofit standard organization in charge of regulating barcodes worldwide, plans to replace barcodes with a QR-style product code, which is designed to store more comprehensive information for retailers and consumers.

Under “Sunrise 2027,” a project that aims to “make barcodes smarter,” GS1 introduced “2D barcodes” to address the evolving demands for information transparency, product authentication, and global supply chain traceability.

Amid this change, it’s high time for businesses to look for a comprehensive QR code generator with logo customization features, allowing them to customize their QR codes for products to reflect their branding logo, colors, and patterns.

Through this article, you’ll know the expectations for this change by GS1, as well as the basics, benefits, and applications of QR codes.

Sunrise 2027: From 1D Barcodes to 2D QR-Style Barcodes

“Sunrise 2027” is the long-term project launched by GS1 to replace the standard 12-digit one-dimensional (1D) barcodes with two-dimensional (2D) barcodes that resemble QR codes, starting in 2027.

One of the project’s main goals is to provide a standardized code to meet both the needs of the supply chain industry and the needs of consumers. GS1 helps consumers and retailers transition to 2D barcodes with point-of-sales (POS) and point-of-care (POC) systems.

You might be asking, are barcodes being replaced by QR codes? The answer is yes, eventually, but not immediately.

Even if all preparations for Sunrise 2027 go well, it can take significant time before all retailers and consumers fully adapt to using QR codes on product packaging and other materials. It can take years or even decades before 2D barcodes become the standard worldwide.

Nonetheless, the project aims to spark an initiative to revolutionize the old and less effective 1D barcodes to address the present needs of consumers and retailers.

How QR code-style 2D barcodes work

Similar to 1D barcodes, 2D barcodes allow cashiers to scan products the same way they do with POC and POS systems. What’s unique about these barcodes is that customers can also scan them with their smartphones.

In fact, many enterprises have been leveraging the benefits of QR codes in their packaging that inventory staff, cashiers, sales associates, and customers can use according to their needs. 

Through a QR code generator with logo customization, businesses are able to introduce QR codes in some parts of their operations, although usually on a smaller scale.

A major hindrance to scaling QR codes across all phases of operations is the lack of integration within established supply chain systems, POS machines, and more.

Through Sunrise 2027, this can hopefully change, allowing for large-scale usage of QR codes.

Benefits of a QR code as a product code

A major push to upgrade to using QR codes is that the barcodes that can only indicate prices are outdated. Aside from indicating prices for each product, QR codes offer plenty of opportunities to meet present and future requirements amid the ever-changing retail landscape.

Here are a few benefits of switching from barcodes to QR codes:

Smarter packing for product information

More and more customers understand the importance of product information. The more informed they are about your product, the more likely they will buy it.

One of the best benefits of switching to QR codes is that brands can convey more than the surface area of their product packaging. It solves the constant challenge of product designers to pack all relevant information in the packing without it looking all crammed. 

Some of the product information brands may want to embed in QR codes include:

• Nutritional value, allergens, and food certifications for Halal, Kosher, Vegan, and more
• Wash instructions for different garments, fabrics, and colors, among others
• Tutorial on how to use the product in the form of an infographic or a YouTube video
• Step-by-step guide to proper recycling, reusing, and disposal of the specific product
• Comprehensive information about warranty, return, and exchange policies
• Important details such as manufacturing and sell-by dates and shelf life after opening

There are countless QR code applications. With a dynamic QR code, you can store more than just text; you can store rich media like videos, audio, and images.

Offer enhanced after-sales processes

Return and refund can be a massive hassle on the consumer’s end, but integrating QR codes may improve the process significantly.

As retailers create QR code for items that can be serialized, processing after-sales concerns can be a lot easier because one scan can reveal information such as:

• Transaction date and location
• Warranty and return information
• Expiration date, if applicable

This way, retailers and customers can see a trail of every transaction, making it easier to determine if the items are eligible for return and refund.

Paving the way for ethical practices

Customers are becoming more mindful of their purchases, placing a massive importance on sustainability and ethical practices.

If your brand also places the same importance on these initiatives, convey them to your potential customers by allowing them easy QR code access to the list of your efforts toward more sustainable business operations.

By using a custom QR code generator, you can create a win-win situation where you can communicate your branding and message toward sustainable and ethical practices.

Verify the authenticity of products

A common challenge for consumers of valuable items such as jewelry, electronics, and luxury goods is the difficulty and lack of methods to verify the authenticity of their products.

It is one of the most pressing concerns for consumers, especially because high-value items are not cheap and are often charged with a hefty premium.

Using a QR code for product authentication, brands can let consumers prove the authenticity of products with a certificate. Moreover, customers can register and serialize their products in the brand’s database to avoid counterfeiting of their personal items.

With the geo-tracking capabilities of advanced QR code generators, consumers can also determine the whereabouts of their items if they ever get lost or stolen. Using this information, they can easily locate and retrieve the item in the last location where the item was used.

Manage the supply chain more effectively

One of the major reasons a QR code generator is poised for mainstream use is because it helps streamline inventory and supply chain processes.

Especially for products such as pre-packaged food and perishable goods, a slight delay can cause the food to spoil, making it unsellable and resulting in losses.

To prevent these worst-case situations, inventory staff can use QR codes for inventory management system to keep track of important dates, including the dates of harvest, ship-out, date delivered, sell-by, and other applicable dates depending on the product.

Moreover, utilizing QR codes improves automation for one of the most common inventory practices—First-In, First-Out—as staff only need to scan the QR.

How to create GS1 QR codes for products with a QR code generator with logo

Whether you’re a small, medium, or large enterprise, creating QR codes takes a few steps only. You can paste more than a logo in your QR code if you choose an advanced QR code software with the latest features.

1. Go to a GS1 QR code generator online.
2. Click Try it now and select between the extended or simplified version.
3. Add the data to embed in your QR code.
4. Choose an output method and add more information.
5. Click Generate QR code.
6. Customize your QR code with options to change patterns, eyes, colors, templates, and frames.
7. Save your QR code by clicking Download.

Pro tips for creating GS1 QR codes: 

• Choose the dynamic QR code option if you want an editable QR code even after you generate or print a QR code.
• Select the SVG format when downloading your QR code solution if you want the highest resolution, ready for print quality.

How to scan a QR code on iPhone and Android

From restaurant menus to health trackers, almost every industry has found refuge in QR codes to keep their business running amid the pandemic’s requirements for contactless methods.

As people were unfamiliar with QR code usage, search queries such as “How to scan QR Code Android” or “How to scan QR code Apple” have appeared time and again.

Thanks to the usability of QR codes, they’re extremely easy to use and scan. There’s no need for special equipment to decode a QR code. You can even scan QR codes on iPhone and Android.

As time went on, however, people became more accustomed to QR codes. Whether Android or Apple, they only have to open the native camera app of their smartphone and focus the QR code.

Free QR code scanners are also available on Google Play Store and App Store.

Perhaps the familiarity with QR code usage brought about by the pandemic may help brands, consumers, and inventory staff have a smoother transition when QR code-style 2D barcodes finally start rolling out by 2027.

Be an early adopter of QR codes in your product packaging

Why wait for 2027 when you can adopt a QR code as early as now? 

With a QR code generator with logo customization, you can be an early adopter of using QR codes in your product packaging.

QR TIGER QR code generator is equipped with all the bells and whistles to ensure you take advantage of the most advanced features and highly secure tools.

Get going with a QR code for packaging with QR TIGER today. Sign up now and get started.

Frequently asked questions

Are barcodes being replaced by QR codes?

Technology keeps on evolving and advancing. Now, we can see more QR codes not just on products but also in advertising and promotional materials.

There’s a huge possibility that barcodes can be replaced by QR technology, as QR codes are more advanced.

What is going to replace QR codes?

QR codes have addressed many of the gaps of their predecessors. With their flexibility, they can be calibrated to the needs of today and unlock possibilities for the future.

For now, it’s difficult to tell which will replace QR codes or if they will be replaced in the first place. Similarly, QR codes may keep evolving, or another code-like technological standard may emerge.