GS1 Ireland’s QR4More programme is helping businesses prepare for the next generation of product barcodes. For Irish manufacturers and brand owners, it offers a practical starting point for understanding QR Codes powered by GS1 and planning their introduction.

As a GS1 Ireland Gold Partner, Codico Distributors encourages businesses to explore QR4More and consider what these developments mean for their packaging and production lines.

What QR4More offers

QR4More supports organisations preparing to adopt GS1 2D barcodes, including QR Codes powered by GS1.

Its Community Hub brings together guidance, webinars and events, use cases, case studies and learning resources to help organisations plan their next steps. A diagnostic quiz also helps participants identify their stage in the implementation journey.

The programme is relevant to manufacturers, brands, retailers and solution providers, giving businesses across the supply chain a shared place to learn and prepare.

Brands & Manufacturers: Packaging, data, consumer information

Retailers: POS readiness, data accuracy, traceability

Solution Providers: Standards alignment, ecosystem readiness

Agencies, consultants and industry partners

Why QR Codes powered by GS1 matter

QR Codes powered by GS1 use the GS1 Digital Link standard to connect a product’s identity with digital information. The same code can support retail scanning and provide access to information through a smartphone.

For shoppers, this could mean ingredients, usage instructions or recycling guidance. For manufacturers and retailers, it can support product traceability and access to product data.

Retail checkout use requires the appropriate GS1 data structure and a retailer system capable of reading and processing the code.

GS1’s Ambition 2027 sets a goal for retail checkout systems to process defined GS1 2D barcodes alongside existing linear barcodes by the end of 2027. Manufacturers can use this transition to begin planning packaging updates and production trials.

Preparing your production line

Introducing QR codes on packaging requires careful planning around how the code will be printed, handled and checked.

We recommend reviewing:

• Packaging material and the space available for the code.
• Code size, position and print contrast.
• Production speed and how packs move past the printer.
• How product information and variable data reach the coding system.
• How printed codes will be inspected and faults handled.

Involving packaging, production, engineering and quality teams early helps your business test the code under real operating conditions and identify any changes before a wider rollout.

How Codico can help

Codico helps manufacturers across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland assess their coding requirements and choose equipment suited to their applications.

Depending on the packaging and production environment, suitable options for printing QR codes can include thermal inkjet, thermal transfer overprinting and laser coding. We can also advise on coding automation and vision inspection to help manage data and check printed codes.

Our Automation & Vision Demonstration Room in Waterford allows your team to see connected coding, labelling and inspection systems in action. Demonstrations can take place in person or remotely through Microsoft Teams.

For businesses considering QR codes, a QR readiness review with Codico can help assess the existing line and identify a practical approach to printing and inspection.

Get started with QR4More

Explore GS1 Ireland’s QR4More programme and register for the QR4More Community Hub.

To discuss your own packaging and production requirements, contact Codico to arrange a QR readiness review.