Barcodes 'to disappear' from all products in major change for shoppers
Share:
Barcodes are expected to disappear from UK shop items within the next five years, a report by GS1 UK has revealed. Retail expert Kate Hardcastle suggests that new technologies, which provide data directly to consumers, are key in restoring consumer trust and marking the end of traditional barcodes.
The upcoming generation of Smart QR codes is set to give consumers immediate access to extensive online information about products and will also 'go beep at the till'. A survey reveals that 41 per cent of top UK retail bosses are confident that smart QR codes will replace linear barcodes within five years.
Trials for QR code-equipped products are currently taking place across 48 countries, with a broad implementation planned by 2027. Big names such as PepsiCo, Walmart, Proctor and Gamble, L'Oreal, and Amazon have already committed to this innovative approach.
Morrisons is exploring the potential benefits of these new mechanisms, with solutions architect Sagar Mehendale stating that smart QR codes are set to become the "'de facto standard for identifying your product at SKU level and also augmenting information about the product.".
With QR codes, customers will be able to instantly obtain highly relevant details. This could include the origin of the product, its carbon footprint or alert them to any potential contamination with food allergens, reports the Daily Record. Shoppers with a green conscience could soon be tracing the carbon footprint of their purchases down to the last detail, as new data from the supply chain reveals where product components are made or sourced, and the emissions produced during their creation and transport. Similarly, those concerned about ethical standards can delve into the labour practices behind each item they buy.
