# Are GS1 Digital Link and Smart, Connected Packaging the same thing?

## Not exactly—but they’re deeply connected.
Both help brands provide detailed product information via QR codes. While **GS1 Digital Link is a universal barcode standard**, **smart, connected packaging** is a broader concept that uses QR codes (and other triggers) to engage consumers, deliver transparency, and support traceability throughout the product's lifecycle.

## What is Smart, Connected Packaging?
Smart, connected packaging includes labels, inserts, and packaging that use QR codes to provide consumers with more than just printed information. This can include:

- Ingredients, nutrition, and allergen details
- Sustainability and sourcing information
- Recipes, videos, and how-to guides
- Product authentication or regulatory disclosures
- Traceability and supply chain visibility

Platforms like SmartLabel® are often used as destinations, but the term extends beyond that — enabling brands to build trust, meet compliance requirements, and offer post-purchase engagement.

## What is GS1 Digital Link?
**GS1 Digital Link** is a global standard that converts product identifiers (such as GTINs) into URLs. A single GS1 Digital Link-enabled QR code can:

- Be scanned at retail POS
- Connect to SmartLabel®, product pages, or instructions
- Route based on language, location, or device
- Enable product recalls, verification, or serialization
- Support traceability, blockchain, and compliance

With **resolver logic**, you can future-proof packaging by updating destinations over time—without changing the code.

## Key Differences

|     |     |     |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Feature** | **Smart, Connected Packaging** | **GS1 Digital Link** |
| **What it is** | A way to connect physical packaging to digital content | A global standard for web-enabled barcodes |
| **Purpose** | Consumer Engagement, Product Information Transparency, Traceability | POS Transactions, Product Information, Supply Chain Traceability, Consumer Engagement |
| **QR type** | Any QR (static or dynamic) | Standards-based dynamic or static QR |
| **POS compatibility** | Not always | Yes |
| **Uses resolver?** | Optional | Optional |
| **Delivr support** | Full ecosystem support | Fully GS1-aligned |

## Why this matters.
More brands are adopting **GS1 Digital Link** as the backbone of their connected packaging strategy. It simplifies things by using **a single QR code** for both consumer and supply chain use—eliminating the need for multiple codes on pack.

## How Delivr helps.
Delivr makes connected packaging scalable and straightforward. As a GS1-aligned, DENSO-licensed platform, we help brands:

- Launch GS1 Digital Link–enabled QR codes
- Power SmartLabel® and other product experiences through one code
- Support serialization, batch traceability, and blockchain
- Maintain privacy, compliance, and seamless user experience

One smart code. Endless possibilities. Powered by Delivr.

[Let’s talk](/page/519/contact-delivr/index.html) about how to power your smart, connected packaging with GS1 Digital Link

Last Updated 20 Nov 2025