External solution providers highlighted as key partners for GS1 New Zealand ‘Sunrise 2027’ 2D barcode ambition

As New Zealand businesses look to implement changes ahead of the ‘sunrise’ of 2D barcoding in 2027, external solution providers play a pivotal role in making this possible for GS1 members. While GS1 New Zealand encourages the adoption of standards in business practices, it is the community of solution providers working directly with our members who enable real-world implementation in the manufacturing environment.

There are over 40 businesses which partner with GS1 New Zealand as ‘Alliance Members’ or ‘Business Partners’ supporting supply chain processes for members. The role and importance of these providers in the GS1 ecosystem was highlighted at a recent event for members of the GS1 partner programme in Auckland. During the event an overview was provided of the global transition to 2D barcoding and the opportunities this presents for New Zealand businesses.

GS1 New Zealand is supporting its members with the transition from traditional, linear barcodes to ‘2D barcodes.’ The global aim is for GS1 2D barcodes to be scannable at retail point of sale by the end of 2027. There are two GS1 2D barcode variants, the first a datamatrix, typically used in manufacturing processes and point of sale and the second a GS1 QR code which has the advantage of being able to carry a url embedded in the barcode which is scannable by consumers. These data carriers open a world of possibilities for New Zealand businesses as they can carry substantially more data about a product and therefore enable far superior supply processes and consumer experiences than what has previously been possible with traditional barcodes. You can read more about this transition here.

The transition to 2D barcoding is happening now, with New Zealand businesses implementing 2D barcoding at point of sale. Next time you are in a Woolworths store have a look in the fresh products section to see the use of 2D codes across products.

The ecosystem of solution providers, from technology providers to print and packaging providers is critical for helping GS1 New Zealand members through this transition. It was pleasing to hear how the GS1 partners which attended the event are supporting this transition, and specifically to hear reported how the adoption of 2D barcoding is on the rise in the New Zealand market. With retailers beginning to move towards 2D implementation, we expect adoption to further increase across 2025. GS1 New Zealand has a directory of GS1 Alliance Members which are 2D enabled which GS1 members can approach with enquiries around 2D implementation. At GS1 New Zealand we are committed to supporting members as they transition to 2D barcoding. We are here to help members and guide them through the process, from education and training through to leading pilot implementation for members.

This transition towards 2D barcoding is a demonstration of the changing nature of GS1 globally. For 50 years GS1 has been known for the humble, yet powerful barcode which has enabled unique identification of products across the world. Today there is an increasing need globally for deeper information about products, and these evolving needs are changing the applications of GS1 standards as markets respond. Consumers, regulators and supply chain participants are demanding to know more information about the provenance and make up of products, and the role of GS1 standards in enabling this information exchange is clear.

Richard Manaton, Chief Operating Officer at GS1 New Zealand, spoke to these changes during the event: “Traditionally GS1’s identification and data capture standards were important mainly between manufacturers and retailers. ‘Next generation’ 2D barcodes, resolver technologies and use cases for GS1 standards are now moving engagement ‘upstream’ in the supply chain to primary producers, and ‘downstream’ to consumers and post-consumption.”

With this increase in application of GS1 standards, the role of solution providers is becoming even more critical for GS1 New Zealand. If you are interested in learning more about the GS1 New Zealand partner programme, please contact us. A list of GS1 partners is available on the GS1 New Zealand solution providers directory.