This article is about a new bar coding technology that's finding its way into supermarkets across the country. It is called GS1 DataBars; they look slightly different than the traditional bar code and can be used for several applications. The new bar code can store a lot more data and can help supermarkets better monitor their inventory.
The GS1 DataBars is already helping a lot of supermarkets with their loose produce which always causes a bottleneck at the checkout. The DataBar is attached to the produce and instead of entering a 4 or 5 digit number a cashier scans a fruit or a vegetable just like a box of cereal. This technology also prevents cashiers from making mistakes when ringing up organic, more expensive produce at the prices for the conventional produce. The Data Bar also allows to scan variable weight products, like produce.
GS1 DataBars can also be used in the deli and meat department. The bar code can contain not only the price but the sell by date, so if a buyer picked an outdated package, the label will be able to alert the cashier.
The bar code can also be used on coupons that will combine offers on several products. It is also possible that in the future the coupons will be scanned off of customers cell phones. Coupons will be sent directly to the cell phone via a text message. The bar code is small enough to fit onto the screen. After the coupon is scanned it will be automatically deleted from the cell phone to avoid coupon fraud. Customers can register for coupons from their computers or ask the supermarket to text them available coupons.
I thought this was a pretty cool new technology that I would like to share with the class.
References:
1. The Bar Code Is Taking a Leap Forward. By Anne Eisenberg. June 6, 2009.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/07/business/07novel.html?th&emc=th
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I like the idea of these bar codes being able to scan the produce. I always get frustrated when I get stuck behind a customer who is stalking up on their produce and the cashier is entering in the number or they can find the number and have to call the manager or someone to figure it out. This is part of the reason why I try to stock up on produce at farmers markets or whole foods bigger places. Wow and sending coupons to a phone is pretty fancy however it does make me nervous that some people who can't operate their phone very well will cause back ups but lets hope those people decide to just stick with the paper coupons. Very cool article.
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