After 50 years, the end seems nigh for the humble barcode, which is set to be gradually phased out, and replaced with a next-generation upgrade within two years

About 10 billion barcodes are scanned every day across the world, and there are more barcodes scanned daily, than there are searches on Google.

But perhaps not for much longer. GS1, the global non-profit that oversees barcodes, has announced that standard barcodes will be replaced by the end of 2027 with a next-generation barcode: a new square version capable of storing much more information.