The global shift from the 1D barcode (EAN/UPC) to 2D — QR code or GS1 DataMatrix — is already live in 48 countries, i.e. 88% of global GDP. From 2026, brands must add a 2D code to their packaging, on pain of eventual unreadability; retailers must be able to scan it at point of sale by 31 December 2027. A QR code can carry roughly 200 times more information than a linear barcode.
What it changes for you
“2D-readiness” is already showing up in supplier scorecards during the 2026-2027 annual negotiations. And everything that code encodes — GTIN, batch, link to the record, regulatory data — comes from the product repository. Without clean, centralized data upstream, the 2D code is just an empty square.