Barcodes have been around for 50 years. It has a lot of uses in commercial, industrial, and retail space. Barcodes have become an integral part of the retail industry because of their use in Point-of-Sales systems. It’s irrefutable that each and every size of business uses barcode systems. Without it, you’ll end up doing everything manually.

What are the other alternatives that will replace barcodes?

1D and 2D barcodes, QRL, Data Matrix, etc., are just some of the types of barcodes. It’s rumored that in 2027 QR codes will ultimately replace barcodes altogether. What does this entail? For anyone using 2D barcode scanners, it shouldn’t impact much in the day-to-day process. A 2D barcode scanner can scan all types of barcodes. However, there might be some updates in each POS system setup when this change happens.

Where you’ll see its effect is with the manufacturers and suppliers following a new mandate in terms of barcode usage. QR codes have more combinations and possibilities than standard 2D barcode types. Also, most software applications nowadays use QR codes to pass any information through your phone easily. Scanning QR codes to complete purchases and navigate through an app provides ease of use that standard barcodes just can’t do.

UPC, EAN, and GS1 Databar: will these be affected?

The barcode system is dated. UPC and EAN are only some of the few uniform barcode types across the globe. A quantifiable amount of the barcodes generated daily do not follow a global standard. It is still being determined if these globally accepted schemas will also be transitioned into using QR codes to carry the UPC or EAN data. However, with the rise of SGTIN encoding in RFID, it may not be ultimately affected.

SGTIN Numbering Scheme

SGTIN stands for Serialized Global Trade Identification Number. In layman’s terms, this is the counterpart of UPCs. SGTIN encoding is used to incorporate your UPC information into an RFID tag. Retailers and manufacturers that follow this numbering schema use RFID item-level tagging in their inventory counting system. This makes it easy to identify the product and count it simultaneously. Much of the work involved in using an SGTIN-encoded RFID tag lies on the manufacturer’s feet. It’s not an easy process to manage. It consists of many back-and-forths with RFID tag suppliers, retailers, and manufacturers to establish an RFID-tagged environment using SGTIN-encoded tags.

Accurate Inventory Kickstart Program (AI Kickstart by SimplyRFiD)

SimplyRFiD developed a way for non-Walmart manufacturers/suppliers to implement their source tagging. Check out SimplyRFID's AI Kickstart Program, a comprehensive service offered exclusively by SimplyRFiD designed to help retailers optimize their inventory management practices and enhance product availability and customer experience. This program involves essential training, including product source tagging, implementing a retail rollout protocol, staff knowledge, and data integration across eCommerce, ERP, and CRM platforms.

Our team of experts with 20-plus years of experience in RFID and inventory will work closely with your project leaders to establish guidelines, methodology, and best practices for all your locations. Together, we will develop a comprehensive inventory management strategy that ensures 100% visibility and synchronization across all your stores.

SimplyRFiD's Accurate Inventory Kick-Start is available to retailers with multiple physical locations in the USA or 100+ locations worldwide. Contact our sales team for a scheduled product demo and any other additional information

We make it simple and easy

The retail world is changing. Many manufacturers and retailers are trying to find new and exciting ways to integrate their inventory data with RFID inventory systems. One of which is the Walmart mandate that recently expanded to many other supply chain verticals.

SimplyRFiD’s products and services, such as the Wave: Audit and Accurate Inventory Kickstart campaign, are the tools necessary to build a system where you can maximize the use of RFID technology in your business. We help retailers and manufacturers by guiding them through the proper methodology, execution, and maintenance of said systems.