You know those thin black lines you see on every package at the supermarket? They have been on all packaging for over 50 years now. The barcode is one of those inventions we hardly notice, but it changed everything. Get ready for round two. By 2027, those black lines are getting an upgrade to 2D barcodes.

Thinking about moving to 2D barcodes? Fair question. But before asking about cost, the first thing to figure out is your targeted use case, or use cases. Are you focusing on fresh food traceability? Faster checkout? Better inventory visibility? Once you know that, the cost questions start to make sense.

For years, V33 had been seeking ways to enhance the productivity of its manufacturing lines. The turning point came when they adopted the CoLOS® Packaging Intelligence Solution, which allowed them to integrate their entire printer fleet to achieve 100% automated product validation and gain productivity.

When I first started talking to retailers about 2D barcodes, everyone asked the same thing: “What scanners do I need?” Wrong question! The real question is: “Who needs to be in this conversation?”

Let’s be real: every consultant out there is shouting that 2D barcodes are the future and you’re already behind. What they don’t say? There’s no universal playbook for 2D barcode implementation.

Texas SB 25 (Senate Bill 25), signed on June 22, 2025, introduces sweeping new food labeling requirements for products containing any of 44 specified additives. With enforcement ramping up by January 1, 2027, food manufacturers must act now—or risk penalties of up to $50,000 per day per product...