As the global landscape of commerce transforms with advancements in digital technology and sustainability, supply chains are increasingly viewed not merely as logistical necessities but as strategic assets driving economic growth. This shift was a key theme at the GS1 Global General Assembly 2025, recently held in Mumbai. This event, the first of its kind hosted in India, underscores the nation’s burgeoning relevance in the realm of international trade and logistics, as it seeks to anchor GS1’s ambitious Vision 2030 for global supply chains.
Renaud de Barbuat, President and CEO of GS1, articulated this vision, highlighting that today, GS1 standards are foundational in product identification, with over a billion products adorned with barcodes that are scanned more than 10 billion times daily. However, the evolution doesn’t stop at merely scanning quicker; the focus is now on enhanced data accessibility and transparency. The introduction of next-generation 2D barcodes, including GS1 QR Codes and GS1 DataMatrix, marks a significant advance, allowing consumers and businesses to access detailed product information—including origin, batch numbers, and sustainability credentials—at the scan of a single code.
This shift is exemplified by pilot projects with Woolworths in Australia, where the implementation of 2D barcodes has reportedly resulted in a 40% decrease in food waste and a 21% boost in operational efficiency. As Barbuat noted, “This is not a theory. These are measurable outcomes from real deployments.” The implications are profound, suggesting that transparency fosters trust and enhances operational performance, aligning with consumer demands for more insight into the products they purchase.
India’s role in this transformation is characterised by both symbolic and strategic significance. With a robust $3.7 trillion economy and an ambitious digital-first policy framework, India is emerging as a crucial testing ground and scaling platform for innovative supply chain solutions. Established in 1996, GS1 India plays a pivotal role in promoting standardisation among Indian manufacturers, enabling compliance with international standards that enhance safety and efficiency across sectors like retail, agriculture, and healthcare.
In healthcare, for instance, GS1 standards are instrumental in ensuring patient safety through end-to-end traceability of medicines, thus combatting counterfeiting—a major issue for over 70 countries that now mandate GS1 DataMatrix codes on medical packs. The integration of these codes fosters a reliable identification framework, boosting the credibility of Indian pharmaceuticals in global markets.
In agriculture, GS1’s initiatives facilitate farm-to-fork transparency, which is increasingly necessary for exports to regions with strict regulatory requirements like the European Union and the United States. Meanwhile, GS1’s systems contribute to the authentication of products in the alcoholic beverage sector, helping states track distribution and ensure tax compliance.
This innovative alignment with global best practices in supply chain management signifies India’s unique leapfrogging of traditional adoption patterns, as it embraces a digital transformation that prioritises high-impact sectors rather than solely retail. S. Swaminathan, CEO of GS1 India, expressed this ethos by stating, “It’s not just about adopting barcodes—it’s about reimagining how we move from fragmented, paper-based processes to intelligent, interoperable systems.” By creating a resilient digital backbone for supply chains, India is setting a precedent for modernisation and efficiency in global commerce.
The broader ambition of GS1 is to replace fragmented data silos with cohesive, interoperable ecosystems that synchronise information across platforms. Initiatives like the Global Data Model exemplify this shift, enabling businesses to achieve accurate e-commerce listings while also minimising stockouts and expediting product recalls. The creation of Verified by GS1, a global registry of product identifiers, further enhances the legitimacy and traceability of goods, providing a crucial safeguard against online fraud.
However, this transition is not without its challenges. Around 60% of existing barcode scanners worldwide currently lack the capability to read new 2D formats. To combat this, GS1 is collaborating with various stakeholders, including scanner manufacturers and regulatory bodies, to expedite widespread adoption before the 2027 deadline.
In India, the push towards integrating GS1 standards aligns seamlessly with national initiatives aimed at enhancing digital trade, such as Make in India and the National Logistics Policy. These frameworks offer fertile ground for scalability, ensuring that GS1’s standards serve as the foundational infrastructure for supporting larger projects focused on data integrity and consumer trust.
Ultimately, GS1’s Vision 2030 is not just a conceptual roadmap; it redefines the foundations of global trade. As India plays a pivotal role in this metamorphosis, the nation is not merely catching up—it’s instrumental in forging a future where supply chains are characterised by transparency, efficiency, and trust. In an era marked by vulnerabilities in logistics and increasing consumer demand for accountability, the evolution of barcodes into advanced digital identifiers presents a clear pathway forward, transforming how goods are verified and valued on an international scale.
As Barbuat aptly noted, “Supply chains are no longer invisible. Consumers want—and deserve—transparency.” The integration of 2D barcodes is poised to deliver just that, laying the groundwork for a more open, connected, and trustworthy global market.
Reference Map
- Content and theme focus
- Woolworths pilot project outcomes
- Woolworths operational improvements
- GS1 General Assembly context
- GS1 General Assembly details
- Woolworths barcode trial details
- Woolworths New Zealand outcomes
Source: Noah Wire Services
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