In the age of self-checkout, product packaging should be covered in barcodes with a single little square for branding
Posted by reticente@reddit | CrazyIdeas | View on Reddit | 14 comments
fkdjgfkldjgodfigj@reddit
Digimarc barcodes are invisible and can be on every side of the package without looking ugly. Some Walmart Great Value items have it. The technology already exists.
SemtaCert@reddit
If you do scan as you shop then it doesn't take much longer to turn it over to occasionally find the barcode as it's already in your hand when you pick it up from the shelf.
reticente@reddit (OP)
This crazy idea was originally on Showerthoughts under the reasonable title "In the age of self-checkout, all products should feature multiple printed barcodes." But the post was kicked from there and they recommended this sub instead. I rewrote it to be more crazy.
Mr_Style@reddit
I tried to post on shower thoughts, after 5 attempts I gave up. Crazy strict rules that I met and still didn’t post.
DrunkBuzzard@reddit
Yeah, I hate fumbling and turning the box or whatever it is over and over, looking for the stupid barcode, they should all either be in the same place and every package of every product or on every surface.
174wrestler@reddit
It has to do with the fact that the traditional UPC barcode is 1973 technology and it's being fixed in the next year.
We are in the middle of a transition to modern 2-D barcodes (Datamatrix, QR). GS1, the organization which is responsible for product barcodes, has set the end of 2027 as a date which all retailers must be able to accept 2D barcoded goods.
You can see this on many products today, look next to the barcode and you'll find a much smaller 2D barcode.
With the smaller 2D barcode, the idea is they can put one on every side, without making it ugly or taking away ad space.
PikesPique@reddit
Also, fruit and vegetables should have barcodes, not just little stickers with a four-digit code you have to type in.
174wrestler@reddit
They do. Just a bunch of scanners aren't set up to read them.
koyaani@reddit
Or they should just have a vision system that can read the sticker
DanielCraigsAnus@reddit
Goddamn that's just crazy enough to work!
brn1001@reddit
Self-checkout is vanishing where I live.
lkodl@reddit
Maybe it's just the first half of a magic trick
CurlSagan@reddit
That's like the Aldi method: Big-ass barcode on every side of the box. That and other German efficiencies result in 40% faster scanning. And their checkers get to sit on actual seats.
koyaani@reddit
Its not necessary to make that kind of trade off for tech from the 80s (UPCs). UV ink/cameras and other emerging tech can do more while leaving the visible brand artwork intact
https://www.tiktok.com/@eatsbycait/video/7503583582686907690
https://tech.yahoo.com/business/articles/walmart-uses-hidden-trick-catch-194335328.html
https://angtech.com/invisible-uv-barcode-technology-5-tips/