GS1 Sunrise 2027: The Next Chapter in Barcoding and Digital Transformation

In the world of commerce, the humble barcode has been silently powering global trade for nearly 50 years. Every beep at a checkout counter, every shipment scanned in a warehouse, and every product tracked through logistics owes its efficiency to that striped rectangle of black and white lines.

But as commerce becomes increasingly digital, the traditional 1D barcode can no longer carry the amount of data required for today’s connected supply chains. Enter GS1 Sunrise 2027, a global initiative that marks the transition to next-generation 2D barcodes, intelligent, data-rich symbols designed to link physical products with digital information.

What Is GS1 Sunrise 2027?

GS1 Sunrise 2027 is a global program initiated by GS1, the organization that established the universal barcode system in the 1970s. The “Sunrise” term refers to a target date (2027) when 2D barcodes such as QR codes and GS1 DataMatrix codes will be fully accepted at retail points of sale worldwide, alongside or in place of traditional UPC barcodes.

In simpler terms, Sunrise 2027 represents a digital upgrade to the barcode, transforming it from a static identifier into a gateway of information.

From Stripes to Smart Codes: The Evolution of the Barcode

For decades, the UPC barcode has carried only one piece of information: the product’s GTIN (Global Trade Item Number). That identifier connects to databases containing product details, pricing, and logistics data.

But in an era defined by eCommerce, traceability, and digital transparency, brands and retailers need barcodes that can do much more. That’s where the 2D barcode revolution comes in.

Unlike traditional 1D barcodes, 2D barcodes (like QR and GS1 Data Matrix) can store:

• Expiration dates

• Batch or lot numbers

• Serial numbers

• Manufacturer details

• Digital links to product information pages, authenticity verification, or recall alerts
  

This makes them not just identifiers, but data carriers crucial for industries like food, pharmaceuticals, and retail, where traceability and compliance are becoming non-negotiable.

The GS1 Digital Link: A Bridge Between Physical and Digital

At the heart of the Sunrise 2027 movement is the GS1 Digital Link, a standardized way to connect a barcode to online data.

Each GS1 Digital Link converts the product’s GTIN into a web-based URL that directs scanners (and smartphones) to rich product information: origin, allergens, sustainability data, authenticity certificates, and more.

For example:

https://id.gs1.org/01/09506000134352

That link can lead consumers to brand pages, logistics teams to batch data, and regulators to traceability logs, all from a single scan.

It’s a foundational shift moving barcodes from offline identifiers to connected intelligence systems.

Project Sunrise: How the Barcode Industry Is Preparing?

The Project Sunrise initiative (also called Operation Barcode) involves GS1 member organizations, major retailers, manufacturers, and technology providers collaborating to ensure that all retail POS systems can read both 1D and 2D barcodes by 2027.

This transition requires:

• Updating POS scanners and inventory software
  

• Integrating digital link frameworks
  

• Ensuring global GS1 compliance for new data formats
  

For businesses, it’s not just a technical update; it’s a strategic investment in visibility, traceability, and consumer trust.

Why Sunrise 2027 Matters for Businesses?

This transition is far more than a barcode redesign; it’s a data transformation movement.
Here’s why forward-thinking businesses are embracing it early:

1. Enhanced Traceability and Compliance

With GS1 DataMatrix and 2D barcodes, each scan reveals batch-level details, helping industries meet stricter regulations, especially in pharmaceuticals and food safety. Recalls become faster, counterfeit detection stronger, and inventory tracking seamless.

2. Boosted Order Tracking and Supply Chain Accuracy

2D barcodes allow for real-time visibility throughout the supply chain. From manufacturing to delivery, companies can track precise product movement, improving forecasting, reducing losses, and speeding up logistics.

3. Consumer Transparency and Engagement

Imagine scanning a QR code at the supermarket and instantly accessing nutrition data, sustainability certifications, or recipes. GS1 Digital Links bring transparency that today’s conscious consumers expect, while also offering new marketing opportunities.

4. Operational Efficiency

Sunrise 2027 aligns with global modernization efforts upgrading retail systems, automating data entry, and reducing human error in barcode scanning and data mapping.

5. Future-Proofing Your Business

Preparing early means staying compliant and avoiding costly retrofits. Retailers, suppliers, and logistics firms that adapt now will gain competitive advantages when 2027 arrives.

Will the 2D Barcode Replace the UPC?

The short answer: not immediately.
By 2027, retail POS systems will be expected to read both UPC and 2D codes. Over time, as 2D adoption grows, the older UPC may gradually phase out, but GS1 expects years of overlap to allow a smooth transition.

In fact, Sunrise 2027 isn’t about replacement; it’s about evolution. Businesses can adopt hybrid packaging (both 1D and 2D codes) until the ecosystem fully transitions.

What Does It Mean to Be GS1 Compliant?

Being GS1 compliant means adhering to GS1’s global data and barcode standards, ensuring that your product codes can be recognized, scanned, and understood universally.

To be compliant with Sunrise 2027, companies must:

• Use GS1-approved 2D barcode formats (like GS1 DataMatrix or GS1 QR)
  

• Encode structured data (like GTIN, lot, expiry, etc.)
  

• Maintain data accuracy across supply chain systems
  

• Support GS1 Digital Link URLs for expanded data use
  

The Road Ahead: Building the Future of Smart Commerce

By 2027, barcodes will become interactive data keys that unlock product intelligence, safety verification, and digital experiences.

Think of it as the “Internet of Barcodes.” Every product, from groceries to medical supplies, will tell its own verified story, traceable from production to the consumer’s hand.

For retailers and manufacturers, this means rethinking data infrastructure, scanning technology, and digital engagement strategies, the building blocks of future-ready operations.

Final Thoughts

GS1 Sunrise 2027 is not just another tech update; it’s a global transformation in how products communicate. By merging 2D barcodes, digital links, and real-time data, businesses can boost order tracking, traceability, and consumer engagement like never before.

For companies preparing today, 2027 isn’t a deadline; it’s a sunrise on smarter, connected commerce.

FAQs on GS1 Sunrise 2027

Q1. What is Sunrise 2027 GS1?
It’s a global GS1 initiative to transition from 1D UPC barcodes to 2D data-rich barcodes (like GS1 DataMatrix and QR codes) by 2027, enabling smarter data sharing and digital connectivity.

Q2. What are the changes in GS1 2027?
The biggest change is that 2D barcodes will be scannable at retail POS, and every code can link to online product data using the GS1 Digital Link. Businesses must ensure scanners and packaging are compatible.

Q3. Will QR codes replace barcodes in 2028?
Not immediately. GS1 expects a transition period where both 1D and 2D barcodes coexist. Eventually, 2D barcodes may become the universal standard.

Q4. Are UPC codes going away?
No, but they’ll gradually take a back seat to 2D formats as systems and packaging evolve post-2027.

Q5. What are the four main types of barcode readers?

1. Laser scanners (common in retail)
   

2. CCD readers (compact and durable)
   

3. Camera-based imagers (can read 2D codes)
   

4. Omnidirectional scanners (fast multi-angle reading)
   
   

Q6. What does GS1 stand for?
GS1 stands for Global Standards 1, a not-for-profit organization that develops and maintains global standards for business communication, including barcodes and identifiers.

Q7. What are the three GS1 standards?

1. GS1 Barcodes (for product identification)
   

2. GS1 Data Standards (for structured data exchange)
   

3. GS1 Digital Link (for connecting physical and digital product information)
   
   

Q8. What does a barcode starting with 690 mean?
Barcodes starting with 690–699 are assigned to China. However, GS1 clarifies that prefix numbers indicate the country of registration, not necessarily the manufacturing origin.

Q9. How can you tell if a barcode is 128 or 39?

• Code 128 can encode alphanumeric characters with higher density and is often used for logistics.
  

Code 39 uses fewer characters and is more common for labeling and tracking within warehouses.