Honoring Innovation: National Barcode Day with DecisionPoint Technologies

Past, present, future—we love the barcode. We love what it physically does to improve efficiency accuracy, and connectivity, and we love what it stands for—the dedication to continuous improvement.

A barcode to us represents process improvement and innovation. Whether we realize it or not, the barcode has immeasurably improved all our lives.

National Barcode Day History

Back on June 26, 1974, the first UPC (on a pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum) was scanned at a grocery store in Troy, OH. This was a momentous achievement for the grocery industry who had been begging for help. Now, we know this barcode scan literally changed the world—and for us, was the start of our AIDC industry that has transformed the supply chains of every industry and continues to do so today. Think about how often a barcode gets used in your everyday life—grocery store check-outs, deliveries, flights, etc. It’s truly the most amazing, and yet still inconspicuous, innovation!

To commemorate this historic event, we created our own National Day! June 26 will now be known as National Barcode Day—it commemorates over 50 years of efficiency and accuracy that began on June 26, 1974.

Our founding partners are Datalogic and ScanSource. National Barcode Day is featured on the National Day Calendar. In 2021, the Registrar at National Day Calendar proclaimed National Barcode Day to be observed on June 26th, annually.

Commemorating 50 Years of Efficiency & Accuracy

National Barcode Day commemorates 50 years of efficiency and accuracy that began on June 26, 1974, when a clerk scanned a 10-pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit gum at a Marsh supermarket in Troy, OH. On that day, the barcode system invented by George Lauer, an IBM engineer, began to change the world.

Since then, barcodes have been revolutionizing industries all over the world. Barcodes, also known as UPC, 1 Dimensional (1D) codes, contain data that help businesses and organizations do their jobs more easily. A more modern version of the barcode is called a QR code, or a 2 dimensional (2D) code. The QR code contains even more data than the 1D code.

Barcodes contain a wealth of information, including pricing, product, dates, manufacturer, and shipping. They are ideal for tracking inventory and sales, but they do so much more than that. Almost every industry uses barcodes, and they likely make your life easier without you even knowing it. Where can you find barcodes besides retail products?

• VINs - Tracking a car's history became easier when a barcode was added to the VIN.
• Libraries - Barcodes track books, videos, periodicals, and other resources in and out of the library.
• Logistics - Every major shipper uses barcodes to track shipments and deliver your orders.
• Healthcare - Barcodes help keep patient care more streamlined and records at the provider's fingertips.
• Agriculture - Farmers use barcodes to track harvests and livestock.

Imagine how different our lives would be without these unobtrusive black and white bars and that satisfying beep every time we scan a product, delivery, or file. It is certainly a technology that will be around for a long time, simplifying our lives. That's another reason to celebrate National Barcode Day!

How to Observe #NationalBarcodeDay

Can you imagine getting through your day without using a barcode? Would you want to? National Barcode Day encourages you to take notice of the barcodes that make your life easier. 

Follow the celebration using #NationalBarcodeDay on social media. Unleash your creative side and make art, videos, and more! Tag us and use the hashtag #NationalBarcodeDay!