Are Barcodes Dead? The Shift from 1D to 2D Codes Explained

Are traditional barcodes becoming obsolete? With the retail industry actively planning to replace them, many businesses need to understand what’s changing and what it means for their operations. This article breaks down the shift from 1D barcodes to 2D codes, what’s driving it, and where things stand today.

The Short Answer: Barcodes Are Not Dead Yet

The classic 1D barcode – the kind you see on every cereal box and supermarket product – has been in use since the early 1970s. It remains deeply embedded in global retail and supply chain infrastructure. Tens of billions of products carry UPC or EAN codes, and most retail point-of-sale (POS) systems are built around scanning them.

But “not dead” is not the same as “here to stay unchanged.” The industry is actively moving away from 1D barcodes, with a clear deadline in sight.

What Is GS1 Sunrise 2027?

GS1 – the international standards body that governs barcodes and product identification – has established a global initiative called Sunrise 2027. The goal is straightforward: by the end of 2027, every retail POS system worldwide should be capable of scanning and processing 2D barcodes.

GS1 US describes the shift as an effort to give retailers greater transparency, stronger traceability, and richer data across the supply chain. This isn’t a fringe movement. According to GS1 UK, 82% of retailers and 92% of brand owners support transitioning from linear barcodes to 2D codes within the next five years.

During the transition, 1D and 2D barcodes are expected to coexist on product packaging. GS1 guidance specifically recommends that brand owners place 2D codes alongside their existing linear barcodes to ensure a reliable backup scanning option at POS systems that haven’t yet been upgraded.

For a deeper look at how GS1 Digital Link QR codes work in practice, see how to implement GS1 Digital Link QR codes effectively.

Why 2D Barcodes Are Replacing 1D Codes

The core limitation of a traditional 1D barcode is its data capacity. A standard UPC or EAN code can hold roughly 20–25 characters – just enough to encode a product identifier number. Everything else, such as price, description, and inventory data, has to be retrieved from a connected database.

A 2D barcode changes that equation entirely. Here’s what a 2D code can encode directly in the symbol itself:

• Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)
• Batch and lot numbers
• Serial numbers
• Expiration dates
• Weight and price
• URLs linking to product information pages

This has practical consequences across the entire supply chain. Because 2D barcodes carry detailed product and production data within the symbol itself, they reduce reliance on constant database connectivity. That makes traceability, auditing, and product recalls faster and more reliable – you don’t need to look up a database record to know a product’s batch number or expiration date.

2D barcodes also support omnidirectional scanning, meaning they can be read from any angle. They include built-in error correction, so they remain scannable even if the code is partially damaged or printed on uneven surfaces. A standard laser scanner can only read 1D barcodes in a single horizontal pass; reading a 2D code requires an image-based scanner, which is part of why POS system upgrades are a necessary step in the Sunrise 2027 transition.

Common Types of 2D Barcodes

Not all 2D barcodes are the same. The two most widely used formats are QR codes and Data Matrix codes, and they serve different purposes.

QR-codes were designed for fast readability and consumer interaction. They support large data capacity and are easily scanned by smartphone cameras, making them popular for marketing, payments, and product information. In the GS1 context, QR codes powered by GS1 Digital Link can simultaneously serve retail checkout and consumer engagement from a single code on the package.

Data Matrix codes are optimized for small-item marking with very high data density. They’re commonly used in aerospace, electronics, healthcare, and pharmaceutical industries where space is limited and industrial scanners are the norm. For a detailed comparison, see Data Matrix vs QR Code – what’s the difference.

Where 1D Barcodes Still Make Sense

Despite the momentum behind 2D codes, traditional barcodes aren’t disappearing overnight. Several practical realities keep them in use:

• Legacy infrastructure: Most retail POS systems today still read 1D barcodes. The Sunrise 2027 deadline exists precisely because upgrading those systems takes time and investment.
• Simplicity for basic use cases: For internal asset tracking or simple inventory management where data capacity isn’t a constraint, 1D barcodes remain a cost-effective option.
• Transition period coexistence: GS1 guidance explicitly acknowledges that by December 2027, not all retailers will be able to read 2D barcodes, which is why co-location of both code types is recommended during the transition.

The three barcode types most commonly used in retail today are still the UPC (used primarily in the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand), the EAN (used in Europe and internationally), and the ITF (used for global shipping on cardboard packaging, with up to 14 numeric digits and higher error tolerance). These aren’t going away immediately – they’re being supplemented and eventually replaced.

You can learn more about barcode types and how to create scannable codes for your specific use case.

Barcodes vs. QR Codes: A Practical Comparison

For a full breakdown of the tradeoffs, see barcode vs QR code – what’s better for your business.

What This Means for Your Business

If you’re currently using 1D barcodes for retail products, the Sunrise 2027 timeline is relevant. Adding a 2D code – specifically a GS1 Digital Link QR code – alongside your existing barcode prepares your packaging for a world where POS systems can read and process the richer data 2D codes provide.

If you’re using barcodes for consumer-facing engagement – driving people to product pages, manuals, or promotions – QR codes are already the more capable option. Unlike a static 1D barcode, a dynamic QR code lets you update the destination URL after printing, so you can point the same code on existing packaging to new content without a reprint.

QR codes on packaging can link customers to nutritional information, how-to videos, reviews, promotions, and subscription options. For practical guidance on placement and design, see how to use QR codes on product packaging.

You can also scan barcodes and QR codes online using a camera or uploaded image if you need to verify how your codes read before printing.

Update Your Product Codes Without Reprinting If you need to point existing packaging to new content, the Dynamische QR-codegenerator lets you change the linked destination at any time and track scan performance from a central dashboard.

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