Supermarkets in the Philippines are set to benefit from the planned adoption of a new barcoding system by 2025 as this would help make their operations more efficient, according to statement by Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association President Steven T. Cua.
The shift to the quick response (QR) code matrix 2D barcodes from the 1D black and white vertical lines would boost the efficiency of retailers. Cua also cited “pertinent product information on the part of store merchandise buyers like place of origin, date of manufacture/harvest, date of expiration/spoilage, and customers (institutional/commercial users, smaller retailers and end- users).”
However, the new price coding system will require a change in the software and hardware used by supermarkets in order to capture more information. For smaller retailers, it will take some time to implement due to the capital outlay.
The new barcoding system will also be implemented globally by 2025 to ensure uniformity, traceability and simplify cross-border transactions.
