As part of my onboarding at GS1 Sweden, I joined my colleagues Alice Mukaru and Lena Coulibaly on a Retail Safari, but what exactly is that? And what makes it so exciting? Let me tell you.
Reading about the benefits of next generation barcodes using GS1 standards and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is one thing. But actually seeing how they are used in practice is something entirely different.
Today, consumers, businesses, and authorities demand increasingly detailed product information and greater transparency. Several new regulatory requirements support this development across the entire value chain. That is why the retail and grocery sectors have set a shared global ambition: by the end of 2027, all checkout systems must be able to read next generation barcodes in addition to today’s linear barcodes.
What do we mean by next generation barcodes?
Unlike the traditional linear barcode, next generation barcodes, such as a QR code based on GS1 standards, can carry far more data than just a GTIN (Global Trade Item Number). This type of QR code can also be scanned by both the customer’s smartphone and the store’s checkout system. This gives brand owners the opportunity to connect the product’s unique GTIN with a wide range of personalised information available to the consumer through the QR code. Retailers can also easily access the information linked to each product by upgrading their checkout systems.
The possibilities of the QR code
Since several brand owners have already implemented next generation barcodes with GS1 standards, we were able to test them ourselves by visiting their stores.
Our first stop was a clothing store in central Stockholm. We picked out a garment and located the price tag containing the QR code. When we scanned the code, it took us directly to the retailer’s website, where we could read more about the garment and zoom in on details such as material composition and care instructions, things that can be hard to read on a small care label. We could also view images of how the garment fits on a model, offering inspiration and styling ideas.
In practice, this QR code, via a resolver, could link to almost anything, sustainability data, user manuals, or current campaigns. As a customer, I don’t need to search for information myself, and the company can centrally manage and update the content as needed. And because GS1 standards are global, the same QR code can be used throughout the entire value chain, from manufacturer to store. This simplifies traceability, inventory management, and potential recalls.
The modern fitting rooms
We then visited another clothing store to explore a different technological shift: RFID. You might be wondering “what is that?”, in short, it’s a technology that uses radio waves to identify and track objects without physical contact. It relies on small electronic devices called RFID tags, which transmit information via radio frequency to an RFID reader. In retail, RFID is commonly used to tag clothing, shoes, and other products, streamlining inventory and store operations.
In this store, RFID readers were installed in the fitting rooms. We took a few garments inside and, without any scanning or counting, the system instantly identified exactly what we had brought in. A digital screen displayed the garments and even allowed us to request a different size with the tap of a button.
This impressive experience is made possible because each garment has an RFID tag linked to a unique GS1 identifier. When you enter the fitting room, the RFID reader automatically detects the tags and sends the information to the store’s system.
Other retail chains use RFID in self-checkout as well, customers simply place the garments in a basket, and the items appear on the screen instantly, with no manual scanning required.
For the customer, it’s a smooth, futuristic experience. For the retailer, it means better inventory control, faster service, and valuable insights into which garments are tried on but not purchased, without tracking any personal data.
Both next generation barcodes and RFID are paving the way for smarter and more sustainable commerce, and it’s clear that GS1 standards are thriving in retail.
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