While you were partying away for the New Year, an important shift occurred in grocery stores, convenience marts and other retailers across the United States. January 1st was the day that GS1 US, the American branch of a global supply chain standards body, recommended for all retailers in the U.S. that sell loose produce or accept manufacturers' coupons to be able to scan a new kind of barcode known as GS1 DataBar.

Next-gen barcodes at a grocer near you

GS1 DataBar, formerly known as Reduced Space Symbology or RSS, is often called a "next generation" barcode because it provides more information in less space when compared to conventional UPC/EAN barcodes. The UPC barcode, first launched in 1974, was developed at a time when POS systems were much simpler and could only handle limited amounts of data. In the past 36 years, computerized POS systems have gotten much more sophisticated, and businesses want to leverage advanced computing power to process larger amounts of data.

As a result, the GS1 DataBar symbology was developed to carry information not just for a SKU number or product category but also expiration date, manufacturer ID, or other data. Experts liken GS1 DataBar to a happy medium between the UPC code and Electronic Print Code (which uses RFID to provide each product a unique fingerprint); it significantly increases functionality and usability while still being simple enough to serve a large global user base across multiple industries.

Besides keeping up with technological advances in POS, GS1 DataBar was also created to label the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) on very small items (e.g., mascara tubes), random measure retail items (e.g., bagged produce), and individual produce items, which previously were often impractical to mark with the GTIN.

Studies conducted by GS1 US show that for an average 100-store chain, implementing GS1 DataBar results in more than $4.2 million in savings during the first year, due to reduced shrinkage and other factors. Walmart, Loblaw's, and most other major American retailers are already compliant.

Like UPC/EAN, there are several variations of the GS1 DataBar barcode, seven to be exact. For the U.S., only four versions of GS1 DataBar were earmarked for this year's Sunrise Date: GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional, Stacked Omnidirectional, Expanded, and Expanded Stacked. These are the versions that will work with retail POS systems. GS1 US recommends that all types of retailers in the U.S. be able to scan and process GS1 DataBar by 2014. GS1 is pushing for global adoption GS1 DataBar, with individual countries setting their own timelines based on national market readiness.

So what's in it for the consumer? GS1 DataBar can greatly improve consumers' shopping experience. Buying fruits, vegetables, and other loose produce will be faster because clerks no longer need to identify the specific variety (and sometimes size) of fruit or vegetable to key in. Also, expiration data stored in a barcode can automatically alert cashiers when produce is outdated, preventing the sale of potentially unsafe food.

Additionally, it will be much faster and easier for clerks to process manufacturer's coupons, which nowadays often involve complex promotions (e.g., buy three boxes of cereal and get a free bunch of bananas). These complicated promotions have often required manufacturers to print 2 barcodes per coupon, but with GS1 DataBar, the same information can be contained within a single barcode.

For more information please visit the GS1 website.

All Socket barcode scanners currently support GS1 DataBar. If you need help preparing your business for GS1 DataBar, or would like to extend your organization's scanning capabilities to mobile environments, please contact a Socket representative for more information online or call 1-800-552-3300 (toll-free US/Canada) or +1-510-933-3000.