Quick answer: The global move towards 2D barcodes is not simply a printer upgrade. Before a Malaysian manufacturer adds a GS1 Digital Link or other 2D code to a pack, the team should confirm the product data, code format, print area, scan test and change-control process.

Recent global barcode discussions have put 2D codes back on the production agenda. GS1’s retail sector is working towards point-of-sale systems being able to read defined GS1 2D barcodes by the end of 2027. This is a phased, voluntary industry transition—not a Malaysian legal deadline and not a reason to change every package immediately. It is, however, a practical signal for Malaysian brand owners, exporters and contract packers: customers may increasingly ask whether a product code can carry more than a basic identifier.

A QR Code using a GS1 Digital Link can connect a product identity to online information. GS1 DataMatrix can carry a GTIN together with data such as an expiry date or serial number. The opportunity is real, but a code only adds value when the data, artwork, coding process and scanning journey agree. GS1’s 2D barcode guidance explains the role of these standards, while its retail implementation guidance describes a voluntary transition designed to avoid disruption.

The important question is not “Can we print a QR code?”

Most TIJ coding equipment can print a QR code, Data Matrix, text and batch information. The harder question is: what should the code represent, who owns the data and how will every scan be tested?

For example, a marketing team may want a code that opens product information. A quality team may need expiry or batch information. A warehouse may need a scannable identifier. These can be related, but they are not automatically the same coding job. Adding more information to a small pack can also make a symbol harder to print and scan if the design is not planned.

Five checks before adding a 2D code to production

1. Define the scan journey first

Write down who will scan the code and what must happen next. Is the scanner a retailer’s POS system, a warehouse device, a customer’s phone or an internal quality check? A code intended for one purpose should not be assumed to work for every purpose. This step prevents a production line from printing a technically neat code that does not serve the actual workflow.

2. Confirm the data owner and source

Decide where the GTIN, batch, expiry date, serial number or web destination comes from. The person approving label artwork may not be the person approving live product data. Use a controlled source and a named approval step. If a web link, product record or date format changes, the printed message must be reviewed before the next run.

3. Choose the standard with the trading requirement in mind

Do not choose a symbol only because it is familiar. GS1 Digital Link QR Codes and GS1 DataMatrix have different roles and implementation details. Start with the customer, retailer, brand owner or internal traceability requirement, then check the relevant GS1 guidance. For a basic comparison of barcode, QR Code and Data Matrix choices, read PTS’s practical selection guide for contract packers.

4. Design the code into the print zone

The code needs an appropriate printed area, suitable contrast and symbol-specific sizing and placement. On a moving line, the print zone also needs stable product presentation and a controlled distance between the nozzle plate and the item. Review the finished pack, not only the artwork file. A code that looks acceptable on screen may not scan after printing, packing, handling or condensation.

5. Test the complete journey—not only one scan

Run a sample through the intended workflow: print the code, inspect it on the actual substrate, scan it with the relevant device and confirm that the result matches the approved information. Repeat after a normal changeover and when the substrate, ink or message changes. A phone camera scan can be useful, but it is not by itself proof that the code meets a retailer, warehouse or industrial-scanner requirement.

What this means for a Malaysian coding line

The coding printer is one part of the process. An inline TIJ system can create variable dates, batch numbers, barcodes and 2D codes, but it does not decide whether the selected data is correct or whether the code will meet a customer’s scanning process. For conveyor applications, an inline coding setup should be assessed using the actual product, code size, substrate and line conditions.

This is especially relevant to SMEs and contract packers. A short pre-production check is usually more useful than promising a “future-proof” code. It can reveal whether the packaging has enough space, whether the supplied data is ready and whether the current printer setup is suitable for the real job.

A practical 90-minute readiness exercise

1. Bring one finished pack, the approved artwork and the required code content.
2. Identify the intended scanner and the action expected after the scan.
3. Confirm the data source and who approves changes.
4. Print several samples on the real substrate at the planned position.
5. Check legibility, scan performance and the human-readable batch or date information.
6. Record the approved message, ink, print position and test method for the next production run.

This exercise does not replace a customer’s GS1, retailer or regulatory requirement. It gives the factory a clear starting point for asking the right questions before volume production.

Frequently asked questions

Is GS1 Sunrise 2027 a Malaysian legal deadline?

No. It is a global retail-industry goal for defined GS1 2D barcode scanning capability at POS by the end of 2027. Confirm the requirements that apply to your own customer, market and product.

Can a TIJ printer create a GS1 2D barcode?

A suitable TIJ printer can print 2D-code content. The manufacturer still needs to confirm the data structure, code size, substrate, print quality and scan result for the intended use.

Does a QR Code automatically provide traceability?

No. Traceability depends on controlled data, documented processes and the ability to link the code to the relevant product or production record.

Should we replace our existing barcode immediately?

Not necessarily. Start with a customer or business need, then plan and test any change. Existing 1D barcodes may remain appropriate for many workflows.

What should we prepare for a print test?

Bring the actual packaging material, required code content, target print position and details of the intended scanner or customer requirement.

Need help assessing a coding job? Contact PTS Technology with a sample pack, required data and production scenario. We can help you review the printing side of the application before you commit it to a line.