Scan4Transport and 2D Code: Supply Chain Disruptors

In an increasingly dynamic, hyperconnected, and demanding economy, logistics efficiency has become a key competitive differentiator for companies. In the face of the "Mexican Moment" of nearshoring, innovations such as Scan4Transport and 2D Code, based on GS1 global standards, are emerging as true disruptors of the supply chain of the future, enabling businesses with merchandise traceability, process automation, real-time visibility, and smarter data management.

Without a doubt, these solutions represent an evolutionary leap forward from the traditional linear barcode and are already being implemented by leading companies in logistics, manufacturing, and retail, among others. Their adoption in Mexico will mark a new chapter for supply chains seeking to become more resilient, sustainable, and customer-centric.

Scan4Transport: Efficiency Throughout the Value Chain

Since 1986, GS1 Mexico has been the trade body responsible for assigning, managing, and promoting the use of barcodes at the product, packaging, pallet, and container levels, among other logistics units. As part of its solutions portfolio, the Scan4Transport standard, based on the GS1-128 code, identifies dispatch units (pallets or groups of items) and shares key information with all participants in the supply chain: from the manufacturer to the logistics operator and the retail market.

By scanning the label, data such as the shipment number, contents, destination, expiration date, or information previously agreed upon by the parties involved is automatically accessed.

This allows companies, carriers, and logistics operators to automate receiving, sorting, loading, and delivery processes without the need for manual data entry or relying on physical documents. It should be noted that the commitment of all supply chain actors is required to achieve interoperability throughout the logistics flow.

Therefore, it is essential to enable scanners or 2D code reading devices, adopt identification systems, implement an information repository with the appropriate security levels, and, above all, ensure the unique and unrepeatable identification of goods, all in order to facilitate data exchange.

In processes where products have a long journey to reach the point of sale, this represents a logistics revolution. For example, in distribution centers in the Bajio region or logistics parks in the north of the country, where large retail, aeronautical, and manufacturing operations are concentrated, Scan4Transport could reduce loading/unloading times by up to 40%, minimize errors, and improve order preparation efficiency.

2D Code: Much More than a Scan

Furthermore, 2D Codes, such as the GS1 QR Code, allow for the storage and display of much more information than traditional barcodes. Through a single scan, whether with an industrial scanner or a smartphone, you can access reliable information such as:

• Instructions for use or safety

• Serial number, batch number, and expiration date

• Product origin and environmental footprint

• Direct link to digital content (traceability, authenticity, recycling, among others)

A Combination of Benefits 

With the adoption of Scan4Transport and the 2D Code, the various links in the national supply chain will experience tangible benefits for:

1. Manufacturers: batch traceability, regulatory compliance, and visibility into the distribution chain

2. Distributors: greater accuracy in order preparation, inventory optimization, and automated monitoring

3. Logistics operators: reduction of manual errors, real-time visibility, integration with TMS/WMS systems

4. Retailers: intelligent inventory management, faster replenishment, and prevention of shrink

5. Consumers: access to reliable information, product authenticity, and greater trust

A Step Toward the Digital and Circular Economy

In addition to their operational impact, Scan4Transport and the 2D Code are key enablers for a circular and more digital economy.

For example, they allow for the tracking of returnable packaging, the recovery of defective products, compliance with environmental regulations, and the promotion of responsible consumption.

For Mexican SMEs, these standards not only pave the way for operating more efficiently, but also for integration into global value chains that demand interoperability, compliance, and digitalization.

The future of the supply chain is already here, and it is being scanned. Scan4Transport and the 2D Code are not tomorrow's technologies, but accessible tools that are transforming the way Mexican companies produce, transport, and sell. It is everyone's job to make this work dynamic a reality.

At GS1 Mexico, we help organizations of all sizes take this leap toward digital transformation, supported by global standards, technology, processes, and best practices that build smarter, more sustainable, and customer-centric supply chains.