Almost from the beginning, the demise of barcodes has been predicted. Barcodes are still relevant on their recently-celebrated 50th anniversary. The longevity of the barcode is based on two factors:
- Adaptability
- Low cost
Adaptability
The barcode that started it all is the humble, ubiquitous UPC, a powerful little tool with incredible limitations. GS1, the global standards organization for barcodes claims that barcodes are scanned 10 billion times a day. That’s 115,000 scans every second. How many of those scans are UPC’s on consumer products? Undoubtedly millions.
It is likely that the majority of those 10 billion scanned barcodes are not UPCs, and that explains the barcode’s longevity. Barcodes adapt to different applications.
Here’s a simplified timeline of barcode adaptability.
| Year | Catalyst | Solution | Explanation |
| 1945 | Grocery store slow checkout | Barcode concept invented and patented. | The solution was not viable until the scanner was invented 25 years later |
| 1973 | Design a viable barcode format | The Uniform Product Code Council formed | UPC format was designed based on an IBM proposal |
| 1974 | First commercially scanned UPC | The barcode as we know it is launched | Public awareness stimulates alternative applications |
| 1974 | Numeric-only limitations of UPC for other applications | Code 39 invented by David Allais | Code 39 enabled simple alpha-numeric encoding |
| 1978 | Problems printing barcodes on corrugated | ITF14 symbology invented | Efficient and tolerant design |
| 1981 | Need to encode entire keyboard | Code 128 invented | Increases data capacity and character set |
| 1987 | Smaller format with greater data capacity, scannable on bare metal | Data Matrix invented | American manufacturers needed a better way to mark lots of data on small parts |
| 1994 | Smaller format with greater data capacity | Denso/Toyota invented the QR Code | Toyota needed a better way to track parts in vehicle manufacturing |
Low Cost
This highly simplified timeline omits numerous variations, notably multi-row linear barcodes such as PDF417 and the many Data Bar formats. But the overall objective is clear: barcodes remain relevant because they are adaptable. The second factor, low cost, is self-evident. If a product has a package, adding a barcode is incalculably cheap, nearly free.
Lightning has struck again. The humble, ubiquitous UPC will step aside in 2027. The successor is called Digital Link.
Digital Link will do everything the UPC does and much more. The product lookup function remains, registering the price at checkup while debiting store inventory and appending the reorder. With Digital Link, that’s just the beginning.
Based on the QR Code format*, consumers can scan the Digital Link symbol with their smartphones to access information about the product. information such as:
- Suggested recipes for a food, ingredient or spice product
- Best use-by or expiration date triggered at checkout
- Nutritional, allergy, ethical sourcing, recycling and other information
- Usage instructions for a tool, component or device
- FAQ’s and Tech Support contact
- Provide user feedback, promotions or brand information
Breakthrough
Digital Link is a true breakthrough with the potential to significantly improve the consumer experience to a higher level than ever before.
The barcode remains relevant and lives on.
Questions? Contact us here, or schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
*other symbol types are in consideration
