Within twelve months your largest retail partner will require it: a GS1-compliant 2D code on every product package. Machine-readable. Immediately. The question is not whether you will switch, it is whether you will be ready in time.
What Is Actually Changing
The classic EAN barcode has been the backbone of retail supply chains for over 50 years. It does one thing well: encode the product number (GTIN). Nothing more.
The GS1 Digital Link now packs significantly more structured data into a single 2D symbol: GTIN, batch or lot number, expiry date, and serial number, all in a standardised, machine-readable format. One code. Multiple data carriers. Full supply-chain visibility.
Industry timeline: Many retailers are planning to mandate GS1-compliant 2D codes at checkout from 2027. For your supply chain this is a firm deadline, not a trend to monitor.
What You Need to Check in Your Infrastructure
Label printing and verification. Can your current label printers produce verified, GS1-compliant 2D codes, including all required Application Identifiers? Verification at the printer is mandatory; unreadable codes cause rejections at the checkout.
Scanner infrastructure. 2D codes require 2D-capable readers. Fixed scanners at goods receipt and mobile devices on the shop floor must correctly decode GS1 Application Identifiers. A firmware update alone is often not sufficient.
ERP interfaces. Batch number, expiry date, and serial number must flow automatically from the scan into your ERP system. If your interfaces were built around the 13-digit EAN, they will need to be extended.
How to Approach the Transition Now
Companies that begin early have a decisive advantage: sufficient time to test, pilot in selected categories, and roll out without time pressure. Those who start in 2026 will be ready; those who wait for 2027 will be forced into expensive crash programmes.
A structured infrastructure check typically takes two to four weeks and produces a prioritised action plan: where is there immediate need for action, where is a software update sufficient, where does hardware need replacing?
The transition to 2D is not a technology project. It is a supply-chain project, and it must be planned as one.
OPAL on GS1 Digital Link rollouts
Vendor-Independent Advice
The market for label printers, scanners, and ERP modules is large and confusing. Whether you are running a mid-range or an enterprise environment, the right architecture depends on your specific requirements, not on a manufacturer’s catalogue.
We advise companies on GS1 Digital Link transitions completely independently of any manufacturer or vendor.
Ready to check your infrastructure?
We help you identify exactly where action is needed, and design a transition that fits your timeline.
Sources:
GS1 Germany Newsroom: “dm macht Kassen fit für 2D-Codes” (05.03.2026), gs1-germany.de
GS1 Germany, Im Fokus: “Die Zukunft steckt im Quadrat” (13.05.2026), gs1-germany.de
