How QR codes are reshaping the future of commerce
How QR codes are reshaping the future of commerce newspress_en Sat, 08/29/2026 - 18:55 Science & Technology More than half a century ago, goods moved through the checkout at a far slower pace than they do today. A shop assistant would read the price, enter it manually into the cash register, then move on to the next item. Inventory control, meanwhile, depended heavily on human record-keeping.…
In the years since the first barcode was scanned in a grocery store, the humble black lines have come to play a central role in modern commerce. The simple row of bars allowed machines to quickly identify items, record sales, and track inventory. However, as supply chains grew more complex, the barcode's capabilities became increasingly limited.
To address this, the Quick Response (QR) code was developed in 1994 by Japanese company Denso Wave. Its two-dimensional design allowed it to store much more information and be read quickly from any angle. With the widespread use of smartphones, QR codes became accessible to billions of consumers around the world.
Today, QR codes are being used to provide a comprehensive digital identity for products. In addition to the basic product number, a QR code can hold information about the product's batch number, expiry date, allergens, nutritional value, supply chain journey, country of origin, and recycling instructions. This allows retailers to gather a wealth of data about each individual item.
Retailers like Tesco are already exploring the benefits of QR codes. By replacing traditional barcodes with QR codes on some of their own-brand products, Tesco can distinguish between individual batches of products. This enables them to sell the oldest products first, apply discounts to goods nearing expiration, and reduce food waste. In the event of a product recall, QR codes allow retailers to quickly identify and isolate only the affected packages, rather than discarding entire batches.
The capabilities of QR codes extend beyond inventory management and recalls. They can also help combat counterfeiting and increase supply chain traceability. By linking a unique serial number to a central database, QR codes can verify the authenticity of products and track their movement from manufacturer to retailer. However, simply having a QR code is not enough - it must be linked to a system capable of detecting unusual patterns and identifying the same code in multiple locations.
The widespread use of smartphones has been a crucial factor in the adoption of QR codes. While traditional barcodes were designed to be read by in-store scanners, QR codes can be scanned by both point-of-sale systems and consumers' mobile phones. This opens up new possibilities for customer engagement and interaction.
While QR codes represent a significant shift in how products can be identified and managed, they are not a complete solution to security concerns. Fraudsters can easily copy the code image, so effective measures must be put in place to link the unique QR code number to a central database for verification purposes. As the use of QR codes continues to grow, they are poised to revolutionize the way we interact with products in the retail world.
Written by urgent.news from Al Majalla English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
