Dubai: Barcodes have been around for 50 years – and with a focus on blockchain, the IoT and 2D, they are going to be around for a lot longer.

“We are now partnering with industry leaders to harness the power of 2D barcodes, not only to meet, but to exceed, the increasing demands of today’s world,” said Rami Habbal, CEO of GS1 UAE. “This new level of transparency will ultimately help people make smarter decisions about what they buy and use.”

All barcodes may look the same, but the ‘power lies inside those lines’. “Since 2000, GS1 UAE has helped thousands of companies benefit from our standards and solutions in streamlining their businesses in various industry sectors,” Habbal added.

Since 1973, the barcode has made its way onto more than 1 billion products worldwide, and accompanied by a ‘beep’ at the checkout counter.

Cover all angles on product history

The next-generation barcodes, such as two-dimensional QR codes, take the stage. Through these, businesses, regulators, consumers, patients, and others will be able to tap into vast data pools.

Product journeys will be transparent. Milk will be traceable from cow to carton on the supermarket shelf; tomatoes will tell their story from seed to family table. Allergen information will be included, as will data on whether produce is organic, how it can be recycled, and what its environmental footprint is. 2D barcodes will including links to additional details online, post-purchase interactions, and improved analytics and insights.

“The UAE is an international business hub and a global platform for business, from multinational giants to startups and new companies,” said Habbal. “As consumers rightly demand more and better product information - and the planet requires us all to maximize the power of data for smart, efficient, and sustainable decisions - we are now launching a global transition from traditional to next-generation barcodes.”