As we collaborate with our community of 60,000 members, helping them find solutions to the challenges they cannot solve alone, we have become increasingly aware of the major transformation currently underway in retail.
This transformation is not only being driven by technical innovation and the rise of e-commerce, but also by shifting demands, behaviour and expectations.
From consumers and regulators to brand owners and retailers, everyone wants to know more about the products they buy, sell or consume. However, space on-pack is finite, meaning there will always be a limit to the amount of information physical labels can carry.
We firmly believe that QR technology, specifically QR codes powered by GS1, will be a critical solution to this challenge.
By allowing businesses to connect their products’ unique identity to multiple online sources of real-time information, these next generation barcodes have the potential to shape the future of industry. They will transform consumer engagement, enhance ESG reporting at both a product and a company level, and improve traceability and transparency up and down the food chain, and much more.
Key insights
of retail executives agree that major change is on the horizon.
say the industry is changing more rapidly today than ever.
said they have already begun building QR capabilities.
will start doing so within the next two years.
Major change on the horizon
Just as we are about to embark on the next chapter of our collaboration with industry; the global transition from linear, one-dimensional barcodes, to QR codes powered by GS1, we wanted to ensure we had a complete understanding of the challenges QR technology can address and where challenges sit among the retail industry’s current and future priorities.
That is why we have partnered with FT Longitude. The research we have conducted is grounded not out of curiosity but out of a genuine desire to be a catalyst for positive change.
Our research has found that while the modern consumer has a thirst for knowledge, this need isn’t currently being met. 96 per cent of those we spoke to agree that major change is on the horizon and that trusted data that informs and protects consumers will be at the heart of this transformation.
These insights will inform our continued collaboration with industry, allowing us to ensure that businesses are well-equipped to meet new challenges and that consumers remain informed and protected with data they can trust.
This report is a validation of what we see driving change across the next decade in retail. Brands should take note and ensure that they are well placed to compete in this new connected economy."
Caspar Thykier
Chief executive officer and cofounder, Zappar
The most comprehensive research into how a combination of consumer demand, regulations and need for supply chain efficiency are transforming product transparency and visibility."
Anubha Dixit
Chief executive officer, Tongadive
