Upgrade Your UPC Barcode to a Digital 2D Barcode: A Step-by-Step Guide 

In today's swift-moving digital landscape, it's critical for businesses to stay ahead of technological advancements. Upgrading your traditional UPC barcode to a digital 2D barcode is one such step forward. Digital 2D barcodes, like QR codes, bring various advantages including greater data capacity, enhanced security features, and direct links to online content. This article outlines how you can transition from a UPC barcode to a digital 2D barcode in a few simple steps.

2d barcode on packaging

Why Upgrade to a Digital 2D Barcode?

Compared to traditional UPC barcodes, digital 2D barcodes such as QR codes are a substantial upgrade for several reasons. Their capacity to store more information allows for direct links to online content, including product details, promotions and videos.

These barcodes also facilitate a more interactive consumer experience. Connecting your barcode with online material enables new and exciting ways to interact with your customers, whether through product guides, exclusive deals or sharing reviews. Thus, digital 2D barcodes can significantly enrich the shopping experience, making it more engaging and personalised.

Step-by-Step Guide to Acquiring a 2D Barcode

1. Select a dependable digital 2D barcode provider: Platforms like IBN Link offer user-friendly tools for quick and efficient digital 2d barcode creation.

2. Create your digital 2D barcode: With a suitable provider chosen, proceed to create your digital 2D barcode. Input the desired information, be it a URL, text, or contact details, and the platform will generate a unique QR code for you.

3. Update your packaging and marketing materials: Following your digital 2D barcode generation, ensure your packaging and promotional materials are updated to incorporate the new code. Provide clear scanning instructions for customers along with information on what they will find.

Following these steps will smoothly transition your product's barcode from UPC to digital 2D, unlocking numerous benefits from increased data storage and security enhancements to an interactive customer experience.

Note: Alongside the 2D Barcode, retain your product's UPC or EAN barcode on packaging to accommodate older retail scanner systems unable to decode 2D Barcodes at the point of sale.

Can 2D Barcodes be Scanned at Point of Sale?

2D Barcodes with a digital link can be scanned at the point of sale to display the GTIN number, price, and other details, similar to traditional UPC or EAN barcodes, provided the retail store uses compatible barcode scanners.

Some existing retail scanner systems might not currently support 2D Barcodes. The barcode sector is urging retailers to update their systems by 2027 to facilitate decoding of 2D Barcodes at the point of sale (referred to as Sunrise 2027). Until then, products must display a 1D barcode (UPC or EAN) along with any 2D Barcode.

Opting for a digital 2D barcode for your product improves packaging and marketing initiatives. The vast data capacity, improved security, and interactive features of digital 2D barcodes enhance the customer experience significantly. If you're considering the shift, IBN Link offers a seamless transition to digital 2D barcodes. Visit https://ibn.link/ for more details and to get started.

Discover the benefits and convenience of 2D barcodes
at IBN Link, and explore a world of possibilities.