How to Plan for Sunrise 2027 and GS1 Digital Link

How to Plan for Sunrise 2027 and GS1 Digital Link

BY: ADINA HARRIS-OLLARVIA / DATE: 01/10/2026 / TOPICS: LABEL DESIGN, GS1 STANDARDS

The transition to 2D barcodes is one of the biggest changes to product identification in decades. If you're wondering how to plan for Sunrise 2027 and GS1 Digital Link, the good news is you don't need to overhaul every product, label, or package overnight.

Successful organizations are taking a practical approach: understanding what needs to change, testing new processes before scaling, and gradually incorporating 2D barcodes into existing packaging and labeling workflows.

In this blog, we'll explain what Sunrise 2027 means, why businesses are making the move, and the steps you can take today to prepare.

Need help navigating the transition to 2D? Let’s chat.

What is Sunrise 2027?

The biggest misconception about Sunrise 2027 is that January 1, 2027, is a hard deadline when traditional Universal Product Code (UPC) barcodes stop working. That’s not what Sunrise 2027 means.

2027 is a readiness milestone. It’s an industry goal for retailers and trading partners to be able to read and use GS1-compliant 2D barcodes by the end of 2027. GS1 anticipates a transition period where 1D and 2D barcodes coexist.

Sunrise 2027 is an opportunity to modernize product identification, improve consumer engagement, and support richer product data throughout the supply chain.

Why companies are making the change

While Sunrise 2027 is often discussed from an operational perspective, consumer expectations are also driving adoption. According to a 2025 GS1 US® consumer survey:

• 79% of consumers are more likely to purchase products with a scannable QR code that provides additional product information.
• 77% say product information is important when making a purchase.
• 62% are willing to spend more on a product with detailed information.

Consumers expect access to product details, ingredients, sustainability information, usage instructions, and more. By connecting products to digital information, 2D barcodes help you deliver better customer experiences and improve supply chain visibility.

Where GS1 Digital Link fits in

GS1 Digital Link takes the value of 2D barcodes a step further. A QR code encoded with GS1 Digital Link contains a web-based link built around a product's standardized identity, such as a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN). When scanned, the barcode can connect users, systems, or applications to online information. For example, a GS1 Digital Link-enabled barcode can connect to:

• Product information
• Instructions and documentation
• Sustainability content
• Recalls or safety notices
• Authentication and traceability information

Think of it this way:

• 2D barcode without GS1 Digital Link: The barcode contains structured data such as a GTIN, lot number, or expiration date. Its primary purpose is helping scanners and business systems capture and process data.
• 2D barcode with GS1 Digital Link: The barcode still contains product data, but it also acts as a digital gateway. Using a GS1 Digital Link Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), it identifies the product and provides a path to related digital information.

Prepare your business for 2D

Before making changes, take time to understand how barcodes move through your company. Mapping the entire barcode journey helps identify potential issues before they become costly disruptions. Ask questions like:

• Where are barcode labels designed?
• Where are barcode labels printed?
• What scanners currently read them?
• What business systems process barcode data?
• What ERP, WMS, MES, or other business systems depend on barcode information?
• What requirements do customers, retailers, distributors, suppliers, manufacturers, and logistics providers have?

Documenting the full barcode ecosystem provides a clear picture of what needs testing and what may need updating.

Try the change before you scale it

Testing removes uncertainty and helps validate processes before broader deployment. A pilot project could look like:

Step 1: Choose a product, package update, or labeling project.

Step 2: Create and print a 2D barcode containing the information you want to test.

Step 3: Confirm the complete workflow functions properly. This includes verifying:

• Barcode quality meets requirements
• Scanners can read the barcode (many modern scanners already support both 1D and 2D barcode reading, reducing the amount of infrastructure change required)
• Business systems can process the data

Step 4: Work with retailers, distributors, suppliers, contract manufacturers, logistics providers, and other partners to confirm they can support the change.

Step 5: Testing often uncovers process improvements, training opportunities, equipment upgrades, or data management considerations to address before expanding.

Plan 2D around your normal packaging changes

Most businesses can introduce 2D barcodes as part of their normal packaging and labeling lifecycle. When artwork, labels, or product information are already scheduled for updates, consider adding a 2D barcode at the same time. With this approach, you:

• Lower implementation costs
• Reduce operational disruption
• Better align with existing workflows
• Easily testing and validation

Use co-location during the transition

Many organizations will continue using both UPC and 2D barcodes for some time. This practice, known as co-location, allows retailers and trading partners to continue using existing systems and processes while supporting newer 2D capabilities.

Take a crawl-walk-run approach

GS1 US recommends a phased 'crawl-walk-run' approach that allows businesses to start with foundational capabilities and expand over time.

• Crawl: Label products with a 2D barcode with a GTIN along with the UPC.
• Walk: Update 2D barcodes with additional data, such as product variants, batch/lot numbers, and production or expiration dates.
• Run: Evaluate the use of other technologies to enhance 2D and GS1 data value, e.g., RFID.

Following this approach helps turn Sunrise 2027 into a manageable business initiative rather than a large-scale replacement project. Each phase builds on the last, allowing you to expand 2D barcode capabilities at a pace that makes sense for your business.

How label design software fits into the transition

Technology plays an important role in simplifying the move from 1D to 2D barcodes. The right label design software helps manage current and future barcode requirements without reinventing your company’s labeling process.

• Design 1D and 2D barcodes in one solution: Managing UPC and QR codes in the same software simplifies deployment and supports co-location strategies.
• Support GS1 Digital Link: As requirements evolve, labeling software should support current GS1 standards and GS1 Digital Link data structures.
• Update existing templates: Instead of rebuilding labels from scratch, teams should be able to modify existing templates to accommodate 2D barcodes.

TEKLYNX label design solutions make it easy to create 1D and 2D barcodes while supporting GS1 standards and initiatives. Try a free 30-day trial of LABELVIEW or CODESOFT or contact our team, so we can help you get on track for Sunrise 2027.

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TEKLYNX partners with GS1 US to help organizations navigate the transition to 2D barcodes. For additional advice on planning your transition, check out GS1 US's webinar, The Road to 2D: Implementation Guidance for Brands and Retailers.