Talking Supply Chain: Say goodbye to the barcode, long live the barcode

On June 26, 1974, the universal product code barcode was scanned for the first time at Troy’s Marsh Supermarket in Troy, Ohio. That kicked off a 50-year run of the iconic barcode—that small square of vertical black and white lines that appears on nearly every item sold today.

The 1D barcode has proven its worth and allowed speedier checkouts and basic tracking information for brands for decades. But, like anything involving technology, society moves on.

“The OG of barcodes has been around for quite a long time and and done its job and done its job well. Does that mean it's just going to beep go away in 2027? Just really depends on what the brand wants to do,” explains Gena Morgan, vice president of standards at GS1 US.

Speaking on the Talking Supply Chain podcast, Morgan explains some of the history of the 1D barcode—did you know it originated as a drawing in the sand on Miami Beach—as well as why the move to a 2D barcode, in essence a QR code, is the right move for businesses.

“Everything begins and ends with the consumer, right? And there are more and more and more demands,” Morgan noted, mentioning supply chain tracking and inventory monitoring as one demand. “That's the business side of things. But the consumer is also demanding more information about those products.”

The 2D barcodes incorporate all of the same information in the original 1D version, but add the ability to code additional information, including data that can allow brands to react quickly to recalled items or ethical sourcing concerns.

In essence, technology has enabled a new era for the barcode.

Listen to more of the conversation with Gena Morgan today.

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