Markem-Imaje has launched two software products and an advisory service designed to help manufacturers implement GS1 Digital Link QR codes and prepare for emerging data and traceability requirements.
The new CoLOS 2D Activate and CoLOS 2D Engage products are Software-as-a-Service solutions for creating, activating and managing static and dynamic GS1 Digital Link QR codes. They are intended to support the transition towards GS1 Sunrise 2027, when retailers are expected to begin accepting 2D barcodes at point of sale alongside traditional linear barcodes.
CoLOS 2D Activate manages codes after printing, including their URL destinations, digital content, scan analytics and integration with enterprise data. CoLOS 2D Engage provides marketing teams with a drag-and-drop interface for developing mobile landing pages, web forms, competitions, gamification campaigns and multilingual content.
Markem-Imaje said the software can connect with its existing CoLOS production software, as well as manufacturers’ ERP, CRM, loyalty and coupon systems through APIs.
The company has also introduced an implementation consulting service, beginning with a full-day assessment of a manufacturer’s production environment, coding processes and operational readiness. Following the review, its consultants provide recommendations covering production equipment, software infrastructure, data management and coding processes.
Viktor Hermansson, global marketing director at Markem-Imaje, said a single GS1 Digital Link QR code could serve several functions across the product lifecycle.
“With GS1 Digital Link, a single QR code can support retail checkout, supply chain visibility, regulatory transparency and personalised consumer engagement,” Hermansson said.
Dynamic codes can direct consumers to different information according to factors such as location, language, time or stage of the customer journey. A scan in a store could, for example, deliver promotional content, while a later scan at home could provide recipes, instructions, product recommendations or sustainability information.
The platform can incorporate data such as a product’s GTIN, lot number, best-before date, serial number and manufacturing facility. According to Markem-Imaje, this could support traceability, recall notifications, nutritional disclosure and the provision of sustainability information, as well as point-of-sale scanning.
Other capabilities include automated code generation, centralised management of QR code inventories and digital content, vision inspection to verify code quality, and synchronisation with ERP and other business systems.
The company is positioning the platform as a way for manufacturers to prepare for product-data requirements associated with initiatives including the European Digital Product Passport, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and the US Food Safety Modernization Act.
CoLOS 2D Activate and CoLOS 2D Engage support both pre-printed and inline coding environments, allowing manufacturers to begin with pilot projects before expanding deployment across multiple products or sites.
Markem-Imaje will demonstrate the software at PACK EXPO International in Chicago from 18–21 October, where it will exhibit on booth S-1614.
