Dubai: Get ready for the next-generation of barcodes – and the company aiming to push this along is the same one that created it in the first place. GS1 is marking 50 years since the founding of barcodes with an eye on the next set, mixed with blockchain and the Internet of Things.

GS1 barcodes are present on over a billion retail products and used in healthcare facilities globally. In the UAE, there are partnerships with UAE government entities such as the Federal Tax Authority, the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the Dubai Health Authority, and the Department of Health Abu Dhabi.

“The UAE is an international business hub and a global platform for business, from multinational giants to startups and new companies,” said Rami Habbal, CEO of GS1 UAE. “It is a great place for GS1 to introduce the world to the new age of barcodes, 2D barcodes, the innovation that will create the next revolution in several industries.”

2D barcodes offer features such as links to additional online details, post-purchase interactions, and improved analytics and insights. These will enable customers to use their smartphones to connect directly with the brand and access all the necessary product information.

These barcodes can detail a product’s journey from start to end, providing customers with information about the source and sustainability of a product.

For instance, consumers would have the ability to trace the journey of milk from its origin as raw milk from a cow to its arrival as a carton of milk on the supermarket shelf.