Barcoding: From Humble Beginnings to Industry Game-Changer

This year marks the 50th anniversary of a groundbreaking technological innovation that transformed global commerce—barcoding. Since the first barcode was scanned at a grocery checkout in 1974, barcodes have become integral to modern life. According to GS1, barcodes are scanned over 10 billion times daily, or more than 115,000 scans per second, doubling the figure from a decade ago. Let’s dive into the history of barcoding and explore its future as an indispensable technology.

Barcoding History: How a Pack of Gum Revolutionized Shopping

The concept of using optical patterns to encode machine-readable data was first patented in the late 1940s by Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver. Building upon their innovation, George Laurer introduced the now-iconic vertical black-and-white lines of the Universal Product Code (UPC), which grocery retailers adopted in the early 1970s. This invention revolutionized the retail industry by automating manual inventory management. Cashiers could now scan products at checkout rather than manually entering prices, streamlining the process.

The first-ever UPC barcode was scanned on a pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum at a Marsh Supermarket in Troy, Ohio, on June 26th, 1974. What began in grocery stores soon expanded to other sectors, with barcodes being used for student and employee ID cards, patient wristbands in hospitals, travel tickets, warehouse labels, and more. In 1988, even the U.S. Department of Agriculture utilized micro-barcodes to track honeybee behavior—a testament to barcoding’s versatility.

Barcode Evolution: Adding Another Dimension

Though the one-dimensional (1D) UPC transformed industries, it had limitations in data capacity. Enter the two-dimensional (2D) Quick Response (QR) code, developed by Masahiro Hara in 1994. QR codes, unlike 1D barcodes, can store significantly more data, including website URLs, payment details, and product information. Today, consumers can scan QR codes using their smartphones to access detailed product info, restaurant menus, or online payment processing. QR codes became standardized in 2014, and GS1 is now leading global adoption efforts.

Alongside the evolution of barcodes, scanning technology also advanced. From checkout-embedded barcode scanners to mobile handheld devices, scanning has become more versatile. Barcode printers—whether direct thermal or thermal transfer—have also improved, with rugged models available for warehouse and industrial environments.

Finding the Best Barcode Solutions

The future of barcoding continues to shape industries, improving inventory accuracy, enhancing consumer experiences, and offering faster access to information. For over half of barcoding’s 50-year history, Levata has been at the forefront, providing cutting-edge technology and ongoing support to help businesses leverage the power of barcoding.

Let Levata guide your business through the next wave of barcode technology evolution, ensuring you have the best solutions to stay ahead in a competitive market.