Connected 2D barcodes
New 2D barcode standards, QR codes, FSMA act, Digital Link resolver, European Digital Product Passports, product transparency, and consumer engagement are all industry “hot topics” that benefit from using connected and serialized 2D barcodes.
Connecting the traditional 1D code equals a 2D barcode or QR code.
Did you know that GS1 aims to move away from the traditional 1D barcode in favor of a connected 2D barcode that provides more information about a product and enables multiple use scenarios and benefits for brand owners, distributors, retailers, and consumers?
The GS1 Digital Link is a new standard that connects the GS1 application identifiers for a specific product, such as the GTIN, with the Internet. The Digital Link enables digital access to all types of digital business-to-business and business-to-consumer information for each specific product, ranging from brand information, product ingredients, manufacturing processes, and distribution traceability to product authenticity, expiration, and e-commerce.
Have you managed to keep up and have your future connected product strategy ready? If not, what is the best way for your brand to get started and catch up?
Connecting the traditional 1D code equals a 2D barcode or QR code.
Did you know that GS1 aims to move away from the traditional 1D barcode in favor of a connected 2D barcode that provides more information about a product and enables multiple use scenarios and benefits for brand owners, distributors, retailers, and consumers?
The GS1 Digital Link is a new standard that connects the GS1 application identifiers for a specific product, such as the GTIN, with the Internet. The Digital Link enables digital access to all types of digital business-to-business and business-to-consumer information for each specific product, ranging from brand information, product ingredients, manufacturing processes, and distribution traceability to product authenticity, expiration, and e-commerce.
Have you managed to keep up and have your future connected product strategy ready? If not, what is the best way for your brand to get started and catch up?
4 steps to start defining your QR and Connected Product strategy
①
Work with a solution provider partner. What are the use cases your company should engage with? Do I need to buy new equipment and software solutions, how much data can I include in my QR code, and what’s in it for the consumer? A number of questions will arise when kicking off a QR project and all internal stakeholders will fight for their “must-have”. An experienced solutions provider will partner with you and support your project definition, being the link between what is technically possible, what is needed, and what the company wants to achieve.
②
Determine and define the use cases and goals of your 2D barcode application. The QR code is no longer only a marketing tool and the use case evaluation should include the entire supply chain. The advantage of the 2D barcode is that it can include multiple use cases in the same code. A different digital experience can be generated depending on whether the manufacturer, distributor, or consumer scans the code, and the scanning device used.
③
Draft your data management and integration model to guarantee two-way connectivity, capturing, displaying, and monitoring of data. Data will need to travel through the entire supply chain and integrate with the producers, the production line, MES, ERP, CRM, and other digital systems – while complying with integrity and safety regulations.
④
Decide between static or dynamic data and review your production line. Current printing technologies can all print a 2D code but, depending on the data embedded, serialization needs, size, grade, the readability and technology will differ. For example. if you want a 2D barcode with just a static GTIN then pre-printed labels can be enough. If you want highly customized, serialized, and live data in the code you need inline printing. The solution provider partner will help you pick the right technology.
A connected QR code is also a trigger to start rethinking how you engage with consumers and retail partners and the impact that can have on a product’s packaging artwork, and the implementation of the 2D code has the potential to become a major industry game-changer. Imagine that you no longer need to add the full ingredient list in multiple languages onto packaging artwork. You will save design space; you can optimize your SKU inventory and even go as far as removing the entire packaging material in some cases.
Ready for the next step? Let's us know you interest here above and we will contact you in short!
Ready for the next step? Let's us know you interest here above and we will contact you in short!
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