Barcodes are being replaced after half a century

Fifty years have passed since the first GS1 barcode was scanned from a Wrigley’s chewing gum package at a supermarket checkout in Troy, Ohio, in 1974. Since then, the black and white striped symbols have taken the world by storm: today, with tens of billions of scans per day, they help make trade faster and more secure.

A barcode is a standard-structured symbol that carries a globally unique product identifier (formerly known as an EAN code, now called a GTIN number). GS1, an international non-profit organization, ensures that every business and every product in the global product identification system has a unique identifier. Thanks to GS1, barcodes have become an indispensable technology in retail, food, logistics and many other sectors over the past 50 years, ensuring efficient supply chains and safe passage of products to customers.

The world is changing, so are codes

Consumers now expect not only a quick scan at the checkout, but also immediate, detailed information about products: for example, their ingredients, place of origin, environmental impact. At the same time, brand owners, retailers and regulatory organizations are also placing increasing demands on the availability of data.

“Today’s increasingly conscious consumers not only want to buy, but also to have access to all the information about the product that will inform their purchasing decision. Transparency regarding products has become crucial, and new tools are needed for this,” said Zoltán Krázli, Director of Business Relations at GS1 Hungary.