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Just as people have identities that tell their story – who they are and where they come from – products, too, are entering an era where their identity becomes fully transparent and digitally accessible.
Traditionally, information about a beverage’s origin, ingredients or sustainability footprint was squeezed onto a physical label. Today, in an increasingly digital world, information can be accessed instantly and interactively through a simple scan.
At the heart of this transformation lies the data carrier, a QR code or similar 2D symbol that unlocks an entire universe of product information. Although it may appear to be nothing more than a square printed on a label, it contains dynamic, updatable and highly valuable data.
This shift is being accelerated by GS1, the global standards organisation behind the original linear barcode. GS1 is guiding the transition from traditional barcodes to 2D barcodes, capable of storing richer information and enabling real-time updates – all without the need to reprint packaging. This next-generation identifier is what we call Digital Product Identity.
Why digital product identity matters
The move toward 2D barcodes is not just a technical upgrade; it’s a strategic enabler for the entire beverage value chain. Here are some of the most transformative benefits:
Improved operational efficiency
The Digital Product Identity enhances process reliability by improving product accuracy and eliminating common labeling errors, including incorrect labels, unreadable GTINs or outdated packaging elements. By relying on a digital source of truth, brands can significantly reduce costly mistakes, minimise product returns, and boost customer satisfaction.
Seamless global compliance
As product information adapts automatically to the country and language of the scan, brands can meet international regulations more easily – delivering the right information to the right market without redesigning or reprinting packaging.
Enhanced traceability: from batch to individual item serialisation
Digital Product Identity supports both batch-level and item-level serialisation, giving manufacturers holistic visibility across their supply chains.
Batch serialisation helps trace groups of products through the supply chain for quality assurance and logistics optimization.
Item serialisation goes further, assigning a unique digital passport to every single bottle or can.
This level of granularity strengthens anti-counterfeiting protection and enables more precise supply chain analytics and recall management.
Stronger consumer engagement and better data insights
Digital Product Identity creates a direct digital bridge between producers and consumers. With one scan, consumers can learn about product origins, sustainability efforts, serving tips, loyalty programmes and more. For brands, each interaction generates insights that support smarter marketing decisions and more accurate forecasting.
Want to see how it works? Join the Inexto webinar.
If you want to understand how to integrate the Digital Product Identity into your beverage operations, don’t miss this webinar: “Digital Product Identity: The Next Step for the Beverage Industry,” hosted by Inexto in partnership with GS1 Switzerland on Thursday, 5 March at 2pm (CET).
During the session, experts will walk through implementation insights, practical use cases, and benefits for beverage brands and producers.
