July 27, 2023
2 Mins read
Barcodes have become an indispensable part of our modern lives, revolutionizing how we track, identify, and manage products and information. Although barcodes are now ubiquitous, their history is filled with intriguing facts and milestones that many people are unaware of. In this blog, we will explore five fascinating facts about the history of barcodes that are sure to captivate your interest.
1. The First Successful Barcode Scanning Occurred in 1974:
The journey from the concept of barcodes to practical implementation took several decades. The first successful barcode scanning demonstration took place on June 26, 1974, at a Marsh Supermarket in Troy, Ohio. A pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum was the first item ever scanned using the Universal Product Code (UPC) system. The historic event marked the beginning of a new era in retail and inventory management.
2. The First Barcode Was a Bull’s Eye Pattern:
When most people think of barcodes, they envision the familiar black and white vertical lines. However, the very first barcode was quite different in appearance. In 1948, Bernard Silver, a graduate student at Drexel Institute of Technology, and his friend Norman Joseph Woodland, conceived the idea of a “bull’s eye” pattern of concentric circles as a means of automatically capturing product information. This idea eventually evolved into the barcode we know today.
3. The Grocery Retail Industry Played a Crucial Role in Barcode Adoption:
While barcodes were initially developed with the intent to improve various industries, it was the retail industry that played a pivotal role in their widespread adoption. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, grocery retailers faced increasing challenges in managing large inventories efficiently. The implementation of barcode systems allowed them to automate inventory tracking, reduce checkout times, and improve accuracy in pricing and stock management.
4. The First Commercial Use of Barcodes Was on Chewing Gum:
As mentioned earlier, the first successful barcode scanning occurred on a pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum. The reason for selecting chewing gum as the initial test product was practicality. Chewing gum’s packaging was easily scannable, and the item was small, inexpensive, and widely available. This choice allowed for a low-risk and effective trial run of the barcode system.
5. Barcode Standards Were Developed to Ensure Global Adoption:
To achieve global acceptance and uniformity in barcode usage, standardization was essential. In 1973, the Universal Product Code (UPC) was chosen as the standard for barcodes in the United States. The European Article Number (EAN) system was later established in 1977 to serve as the international counterpart. These barcode standards laid the foundation for seamless global trade and product identification.
Barcodes have come a long way since their inception, evolving from a simple “bull’s eye” pattern to the familiar vertical line structure that we encounter daily. From the first successful barcode scanning at a grocery store to the development of standardized systems, the history of barcodes is filled with fascinating facts. Today, barcodes continue to play a crucial role in our daily lives, facilitating seamless retail transactions, efficient inventory management, and enhanced supply chain operations. As technology continues to advance, barcodes are likely to remain an integral part of our digital world, contributing to increased accuracy, efficiency, and convenience in various industries.
Connect with us for more information on barcode technology, its multitude of uses, and how our smart barcode scanning solution can propel your business to new heights: ScanFlow – AI Scanner on Smart Devices for Data capture and Workflow Automation
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