บาร์โค้ด 2 มิติ สำคัญอย่างไรกับเจ้าของสินค้าและผู้บริโภคWhat Is the Importance of 2D Barcodes for Product Owners and Consumers?

Businesses are being reshaped by technology!... This phrase must be acknowledged without doubt, as we are currently living in an era where digital technology profoundly impacts daily life and progresses unceasingly. It can be firmly stated that digital technology is no longer distant from ourselves.

Of course, the same applies to business; whether offline or online, it is necessary to comprehend the significance and advantages of digital technology to seize future business opportunities. This is especially true if the products can trace their production origins and record data extensively, thereby ensuring both safety and accuracy of information, which in turn fosters strong consumer and supply chain confidence. It is akin to utilizing the benefits of 'Barcode' in business or industry, which has advanced to the 2D Barcode system.

..

Barcode may not be a commonly used term, but when mentioning Barcode, many people can visualize it immediately.

Barcodes have continually enhanced service development and are widely utilized across virtually all sectors, including industry, retail, logistics, advertisement, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices, among others. This is apparent as this symbol appears on almost every commercial product's packaging, and the information from barcodes also enhances supply chain management.

Having reached this point, let us provide some brief information regarding the globally recognized standard barcode systems that are in widespread use, which comprise two systems:

• UPC (Universal Product Code) began use around 1974 in the United States and Canada.

• EAN (European Article Numbering) was introduced around 1977 and is a standard system widely accepted in numerous countries worldwide, including Europe, Asia, the Pacific, Australia, Latin America, and Thailand, characterized by a 13-digit number. The GS1 Thailand acts as the registry authority to oversee and provide consultation on the application of international standards.

Subsequently, both the barcode systems were integrated into a unified standard for the convenience of global product management under the global standard name GS1 or The First of Global Standard, whereby EAN and UPC are categorized as 1D (One-Dimensional) Barcodes, characterized by a series of alternating black and white lines (the colors recommended by GS1 for optimal reading of barcode values).

..

As consumer and supply chain demands increase, barcode technology must also evolve to keep pace with the requirements.

The appearance of 2D barcodes (2D Barcode) comes in various types and characteristics based on popularity, such as Data Matrix or QR Code (Quick Response), GS1 DataMatrix, and GS1 QR Code, among others. Especially with the QR Code, it is certain that many are already familiar with its use.

Within the GS1 global standard system, 2D barcodes also come in many types, with a popular symbol being GS1 DataMatrix, used for identifying, tracking, and tracing health products. Presently, it is also being adopted to prevent the sale of expired products at the point of sale in retail stores, particularly for fresh or ready-to-eat foods. Additionally, QR Code – GS1 Digital Link represents a rising star in 2D barcodes, wherein GS1 has developed international standards that fulfill supply chain management and brand communication needs with consumers since the majority of consumers today possess smartphones that easily read QR Code – GS1 Digital Link. This type of barcode is thus used to display additional product information such as safety data, allergen information, usage instructions, recycling information, or pharmaceutical documentation, along with promotional information related to that product. It can be stated that both types of 2D barcodes are extremely important for businesses and industries today.

Why is that?

Because the global retail industry is becoming increasingly aware of the need to upgrade barcode reading equipment and software at retail points (POS: Point of Sale) to accommodate the reading of information from 2D barcodes in accordance with the GS1 international standards as mentioned. This trend within the industry has been termed Ambition 2027, with the goal that by 2027 (CE 2027), the global retail industry will be able to scan all types of 2D barcodes according to GS1 standards, and operators can choose which type of 2D barcode to use for identifying their products to align with the needs of partners, consumers, regulations of destination countries, or the product owners themselves. It must be noted that this strategy does not imply that 1D barcodes will be discontinued.

However, due to the greater advantages of 2D barcodes over 1D barcodes in many aspects, in the future, when the global market is ready across all sectors, we might witness an increasing prevalence of 2D barcodes on product packaging while possibly seeing a decrease in the use of 1D barcodes, potentially leading to their complete disappearance from the market. Yet during this transitional period, many of you may begin to see that both 1D and 2D barcodes are printed side by side on product labels, owing to the varying readiness levels of retail stores. Retailers that have not yet upgraded their equipment or software to read 2D barcode information can continue to read 1D barcode data. On the other hand, those ready can read 2D barcode information for managing sales, stock-taking, inventory management, and utilize functions to prevent expired product sales at points of sale (if that 2D barcode contains expiry date information). This also includes tracing and recalling products quickly and ultimately enhances Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. These benefits will positively impact the overall supply chain across the country, promoting transparency and accountability, which is beneficial to regulatory agencies for easier monitoring, thereby enhancing public safety.

See how 2D barcodes benefit both businesses, the industrial sector, public government, and consumers indeed!

Retail businesses and product owners have about four years to prepare for the forthcoming transition. Before Ambition Sunrise 2027, retail businesses need to upgrade their hardware and software, including barcode printers and barcode scanners, to accommodate the use of 2D barcodes per GS1 international standards.

..

For product owners requiring preparation, those who are already members of the GS1 Thailand will not incur additional registration costs for barcode membership. However, they should begin studying how to implement the application of 2D barcodes. If there is a need to use 2D barcodes that contain production data (Production Information), such as Batch/Lot or expiration dates printed on the barcode, additional investments in barcode printing systems on the production line may be required. Information can be verified through the printing system service providers or by contacting the GS1 Thailand. For those unsure of how to start, I invite you to download the GS1 SmartBar application free of charge via Android and iOS to verify GS1 Thailand member information at a basic level. This app also provides a means of communicating basic product information to consumers. With just that, elevating business standards is no longer a distant endeavor.