The race is on!

Are your labels ready?

The countdown to GS1’s Sunrise 2027 is well under way.

What is Sunrise 2027?

By the end of 2027, the ambition is for retailers around the world to be scanning data rich 2D barcodes (such as QR Codes and GS1 DataMatrix codes) at the point of sale, in preference to the traditional 1D linear barcodes.

You may have noticed that the transition has already begun, with some of the world’s largest brands and retailers already upgrading their systems and testing the technology.

Do you need to change?

You could stick with linear barcodes… …but why would you, when 2D barcodes are genuinely next level technology?

Those simple, albeit fantastic, product focused labels are about to become far more powerful…

Linear barcodes have only ever been able to hold between 8 to 25 characters of data, often relating to the product name and the price; whilst 2D barcodes can hold up to 8,000 characters of information within the QR code, and can also link consumers directly to rich online content such as:

✅ Product information, ingredients and allergen details

✅ Batch numbers, expiry dates and traceability

✅ Sustainability and recycling guidance

✅ User guides and support content

✅ Promotions, loyalty schemes and competitions

✅ Improved inventory management and simpler product recalls

✅ Multi-lingual data

✅ Videos

✅ Social media

✅ And soooo much more

For many businesses, this isn’t just about complying with a technology upgrade, it’s an opportunity to improve, deepen and strengthen customer engagement, whilst creating a smarter, more efficient and transparent supply chain.

At Mercian Labels we are already helping brand owners and manufacturers prepare for the transition, and our latest Sunrise 2027 Overview explains what the changes mean, who they will affect, and the implementation timeline.

If you would like your own copy, just get in touch with a member of our team and we’ll be happy to send one over and discuss your next steps to being future ready.

2027 is only a few months away.

Make sure your team are ready to win the race

Your labels – Made reliably – Made better

#Sunrise2027 #GS1 #QRCodes #Barcodes #2DBarcodes #NextGenBarcodes