The GS1 Digital Link is a standardized structure that enables a 2D barcode to serve as a point-of-sale function and a web-based URL for consumer experiences.
What is the GS1 Digital Link?
The GS1 Digital Link is a standardized structure that enables a 2D barcode to serve as a point-of-sale function and a web-based URL for consumer experiences.
It has been announced that in 2027, a new standard will replace the Universal Product Codes (UPC) that have been in use for nearly 50 years. This groundbreaking standard will use QR codes encoded with a GS1 Digital Link, providing a range of benefits for businesses and consumers alike.
The upgrade to QR codes will enable every product to become smartphone interactive, allowing consumers to connect with products seamlessly. This will enable transactions with point-of-sale systems, providing a more efficient and convenient shopping experience. GS1 Digital Link will also provide supply chain traceability, ensuring that each product can be tracked from its inception to its final destination.
GS1 has long been recognized for creating a global business language based on unique and unambiguous identification. This identification is encoded in data carriers like QR codes and RFID tags, and it is essential for business processes that rely on those identifiers. These fundamentals are used worldwide to support the various business needs of supply chain partners, enabling greater efficiencies in processing goods and services.
The World Wide Web is an environment that allows people and companies to access and share information on anything, including products and services. GS1 Digital Link serves as the bridge that connects GS1-based identification schemes with the syntax used on the World Wide Web. This provides a standard way of expressing GS1 keys and attribute data in a format that can be used on the Web.
The GS1 Digital Link Standard defines how to structure web URIs to include additional information like batch/lot, expiration date, serial number, and other GS1 keys like GLN (Global Location Number) and SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code). This powerful standard enables a single, standardized QR code to perform multiple online and offline functions, reducing the need for numerous codes on packaging. With the implementation of GS1 Digital Link, businesses and consumers will benefit from greater efficiency, traceability, and convenience.