Qliktag Software Launches GS1 Digital Link Configuration & Management for Digitalized Consumer Products

The GS1 Digital Link is a much-anticipated new age upgrade to the standard GS1 barcode. The current GS1 Barcode appears on nearly every item around the globe and is said to be scanned over 5 billion times a day.

Qliktag Software Inc., a leading IoT platform company for smart connected everyday consumer products has announced the release of version 3.2 of the Qliktag Platform which features direct support for resolving GS1 Digital Links.

The GS1 Digital Link is a much-anticipated new age upgrade to the standard GS1 barcode. The current GS1 Barcode appears on nearly every item around the globe and is said to be scanned over 5 billion times a day. The GS1 Digital Link is a relatively new standard that enables an item to be identified by scanning a single code on the packaging with a globally standardized URL format instead of a set of numbers typically carried within a barcode. This implies a single code such as a printed QR code, datamatrix, NFC label, RFID tag or other technology with a GS1 Digital Link format URL can not only identify the product but also deliver virtually unlimited information, content and digital experiences to various stakeholders who interact with the product from the manufacturer, supply chain, regulators and end consumers. With the latest January 2021 version 3.2 release of the Qliktag Platform, users of the platform are able to configure, customize and setup validated GS1 Digital Links for their items as well as design the various digital experiences to be delivered.

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“We’ve been enabling everyday FMCG products as smart products with our own proprietary URL link formats since 2012. What is exciting about the GS1 Digital Link and makes this a game changer is that it is a globally standardized and a unified way for products to be connected and digitally identified on the web. For every manufacturer or brand looking to adopt this GS1 Digital Link standard, it’s effectively taking the barcode concept used on their products a step up into the digital era.” Comments Dilip Daswani CEO of Qliktag Software.

“Coupled with the GS1 Resolver, The Qliktag Platform can also resolve and deliver experiences for reference Digital Links, this Digital Links that begin with id.gs1.org. It works in a way that is similar to how a DNS handles a lookup request when someone types in a domain name into a browser. The DNS server either resolves that domain name to a web location and delivers a website or forwards the request to another DNS Server to resolve. In much the same way the the Qliktag Platform can be set up in the GS1 Resolver as the resolver of record for a set of identifiers. For those set of identifiers, the GS1 Resolver forwards the request to the Qliktag Platform for resolution. This is especially useful for companies that continue to use standard GS1 datamatrix and 1D codes where only the GS1 identifiers are embedded but still want to take advantage of Digital Links , adds Dilip.

“With this new feature, users of the Qliktag Platform can easily configure GS1 Digital Links for all the items whose IDs they have within the platform. They can also design multiple digital experiences for labeling information, consumer related information, supply chain attributes, traceability, recycling related information and other consumer and business applications” comments Neil Sequeira, Director of Product & Marketing at Qliktag Software. “However, they can also use the platform to generate and manage the GS1 Digital Links within the platform and redirect to external URLs or web experiences if they choose to.” Neil adds. “Once a GS1 Digital Link has been configured within the platform and the single code printed on the packing or enabled on the item, the manufacturer or brand can use The Qliktag Platform to decide what that code points to and that could be a single use case today for example, ‘package recycling information’ and additional experiences for traceability history of the item, consumer feedback forms or recipe videos can updated as additional experiences without reprinting codes on the packaging or applying additional barcodes, QR code labels and stickers for each additional requirement as we often see today” says Neil.

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“The GS1 Digital Link standard in the way it has been architected, inherently paves the way for manufacturers and brands to go beyond the product SKU and deliver information on the manufacturing batch / LOT level or even down to serial item level information” adds Dilip on discussing how this upgrade to the traditional barcode will play a role in the digitally driven future of consumer products and retail. “This can contribute to food safety and product safety by being able to deliver batch level information such as best before dates, receive push notifications on previously scanned items nearing expiry, access serial level traceability information such as the specific farm that the fresh foods originated from. This ultimately drives increased trust in a brand’s products” he adds.

With digitalization of everyday consumer products gaining momentum globally, the Qliktag Platform offers a robust, secure and highly scalable technology platform with subscription plans for small businesses to large enterprises. With the latest version 3.2 released and available, users will now be able to leverage the platform to configure, generate and manage GS1 Digital Links across any entity or class of items adding to its growing list of capabilities and features.

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