A product will not scan, so the cashier has to enter the number manually. A self-checkout machine stalls. The price on the screen does not match the barcode shift, or a recall notice leaves shoppers unsure whether the item in their kitchen is affected.
Individually, these inconveniences may seem small. Together, they slow down checkout, frustrate customers, and add to the workload of store employees.
According to QRNow’s GS1 Sunrise 2027 guide, the retail industry is preparing for point-of-sale systems to read and process both traditional one-dimensional barcodes and newer two-dimensional formats, including QR Codes powered by GS1 and GS1 DataMatrix, by the end of 2027.
Although the change is largely technical, shoppers could notice the difference in practical ways. More detailed product data could support more precise recalls, improve inventory management, and make useful information easier to find.
Why traditional barcodes have limits
The familiar retail barcode has worked well for decades. It helped make checkout faster and gave retailers a reliable way to identify products and manage stock.
However, it was designed for a simpler retail environment.
A standard UPC or EAN barcode usually contains a Global Trade Item Number, or GTIN. That identifies the product type, but it does not normally include variable details such as a batch number, serial number, or expiration date.
This limitation becomes more visible during a recall. Retailers may need to check products manually if the affected batch is not easy to identify. Employees may also spend time monitoring expiration dates or answering questions about ingredients, materials, and product use.
A 2D barcode can carry or connect to more information. Depending on how it is set up, it may include a GTIN along with a batch number, serial number, or expiration date. It can also link shoppers and employees to online information through GS1 Digital Link.
One code can identify the product at checkout, help retailers manage stock, improve recall accuracy, and give shoppers access to details that do not fit on the package.
A smoother checkout when systems are ready
Checkout is one place where a small delay quickly becomes frustrating.
When a code does not scan, the line slows down. A cashier must step in, or one employee may have to move between several self-checkout stations.
Sunrise 2027 is intended to help retail systems process newer 2D barcodes alongside existing linear barcodes. It does not guarantee that every scanning problem will disappear. Print quality, barcode placement, software, and scanner capability will still matter.
For shoppers, the best transition will be one they barely notice. The product should scan, the correct information should appear, and the line should keep moving.
Better information at the point of decision
Packaging space is limited, but shoppers often have detailed questions.
Someone buying food may want allergen information. A parent may be looking for safety guidance. A skincare customer may want clearer instructions. Another shopper may need recycling information or a way to check whether a high-value product is genuine.
A 2D barcode can provide a practical route to that information.
A 2024 GS1 US consumer survey found that 79 percent of respondents were more likely to purchase a product with a smartphone-scannable barcode or QR code that provided the additional information they wanted.
The best uses will be simple and useful. A scan should answer a real question quickly, not send shoppers through several pages or lead to a broken website.
Retail workers could benefit too
Store employees deal with unclear product information every day. They answer customer questions, check prices, monitor stock, process returns, and respond when a product is recalled.
If batch or expiration information is available and the retailer’s systems can process it, employees may identify affected stock more quickly. Better-connected records can also reduce the need to search several systems for basic details.
The barcode itself will not solve staffing pressure or poor store systems. It can, however, reduce some of the guesswork involved in routine tasks.
Image Source: QRNow
Problems often begin before the product reaches the shelf
Many customer frustrations start earlier in the supply chain.
Incomplete records can create inconsistent listings. Weak batch tracking can complicate recalls. Poor inventory data can contribute to stock problems that shoppers eventually encounter in stores or online.
2D barcodes can support better traceability as products move from manufacturers to warehouses and retailers. The benefit depends on each participant capturing and sharing accurate information. A more capable code is useful only when the systems behind it are reliable.
This is especially important for food, beauty, household goods, and other categories where safety, authenticity, or expiration dates matter.
A small change with everyday effects
GS1 Sunrise 2027 is not a promise of perfect checkouts, effortless returns, or shorter lines in every store. It is a readiness target for retail systems, and traditional barcodes will not suddenly disappear.
Still, the change could improve some familiar parts of shopping. Recalls may become more precise. Product information may be easier to find. Store teams may have better data, and shoppers may spend less time searching for answers.
The barcode helped make retail faster. Its next stage could make parts of retail clearer and easier to manage.
Most customers will never need to understand the standard behind the code. They will simply notice when the product scans correctly, the information makes sense, and the shopping experience feels a little less frustrating.
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