A fundamental change is imminent in how businesses handle product labeling and tracking. By 2027, GS1, the organization that sets global barcode standards, expects all Point-of-Sale (POS) scanners to be capable of reading 2D codes using the GS1 Digital Link.
This mandatory shift, known as Sunrise 2027, is far more than just a regulatory update. It represents a significant opportunity for brands to completely revitalize consumer engagement, streamline inventory management, and secure a leading position in the evolving digital marketplace.
For companies in the CPG sector, this transition will directly influence their daily operations and financial performance. However, brands that prepare proactively can leverage Sunrise 2027 to establish a strong competitive advantage. In this article we will outline Flowcode is empowering brands to meet compliance and reinvent consumer engagement.
Technical Compliance with GS1 Digital Link
Flowcode is engineered to make your transition to the new global standard seamless and strategic. Our platform simplifies the complex technical requirements of GS1 Digital Link.
Flowcode generates dynamic 2D codes (QR Codes) that are structured to encode your product data using the mandatory GS1 Digital Link syntax. As an example, that digital link syntax might look something like this:
Breaking it down:
https://id.yourbrand.com/ is the base URL
01 is an Application Identifier (AI), or the Product Key
09312345678907 is the Product Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)
⚙️ How Flowcode QR Codes Meet the GS1 Standard
GS1 Requirement | Flowcode Feature | Technical Mechanism |
Data Encoding Standard | GS1 Digital Link URI Structure | Flowcode automatically formats the encoded data as a standardized Web Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), which is the foundation of GS1 Digital Link. This URI includes the mandatory Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) and can accommodate additional Application Identifiers (AIs). |
High Data Capacity | 2D Code Format | Unlike 1D barcodes that only store the GTIN, Flowcode utilizes the 2D QR code format to store up to 4,200 alphanumeric characters. This capacity allows for encoding critical logistics and consumer data. |
Unique Product Identification | Configurable AIs | The platform allows you to easily input and encode unique data points like Batch/Lot Number, Expiration Date, and Unique Serial Identifier. Flowcode translates these inputs into the correct GS1 Application Identifiers (AIs) within the URI. |
POS & Supply Chain Scanning | High-Resolution, Dynamic Codes | Flowcode generates print-ready vector codes optimized for both high-speed retail POS scanning (post-2027) and industrial supply chain scanners. The codes are built with inherent error correction (resilience), ensuring accurate data capture even if the code sustains minor damage. |
🔗 Dynamic Linking and Data Management
Flowcode's 2D codes offer powerful dual functionality in a single code:
When scanned by POS: It serves its essential function, delivering compliant product price and inventory data.
When scanned by a consumers mobile device: It unlocks a consumer-friendly experience (like a sweepstakes, recipe, or website), instantly connecting the consumer to your brand.
Additionally, due to the dynamic nature of Flowcode's codes and platform, it empowers brands to adjust and update the content (e.g., change promotions, update product manuals) without changing the physical code on the packaging.
Act Now: The Strategic Advantage of Flowcode
The 2027 deadline is a firm operational requirement, but preparing early with Flowcode transforms compliance into a competitive asset. Waiting risks scrambling for technical integration and missing out on immediate strategic gains.
Compliance and Operational Risk
The transition requires more than a simple code update; it demands a full audit and update of your packaging design, POS software, and data management systems. Starting now with Flowcode provides the essential time for:
Pilot Testing: Deploying Flowcode on a limited product line to troubleshoot logistics, confirm scanner compatibility, and refine consumer engagement strategies.
Team Training: Ensuring your operations, marketing, and data teams are trained on capturing and utilizing the powerful new data generated by 2D codes.
Beyond the Barcode
Flowcode allows you to maximize the intrinsic benefits of 2D codes from day one:
Elevated Consumer Engagement: Each product becomes an interactive touchpoint. Consumers can scan for authenticity verification, usage instructions, promotional offers, or sustainability data. This shift aligns with the 79% of consumers who prefer scannable product information.
Enhanced Supply Chain Intelligence: Utilize the code's capacity to embed detailed logistics data. This enables superior inventory management, real-time product tracking, and full traceability from production to purchase, leading to faster operations and fewer errors.
Marketing Data Power: Every scan recorded by Flowcode provides real-time analytics on consumer interaction, geographical location, and device type, allowing you to optimize marketing spend and personalize future customer experiences.
Getting Started: Your Flowcode Action Plan
Technical Audit: Use Flowcode to assess your current product SKUs and identify which require the immediate transition to the GS1 Digital Link structure.
Code Configuration: Use the Flowcode platform's intuitive interface to build your GS1-compliant QR codes, easily inputting the required GTIN and optional AIs.
Deploy and Pilot: Implement the new Flowcodes on a small scale, leveraging our analytics to measure supply chain efficiency and customer engagement metrics before a full-scale rollout.