Published on: February 17, 2025 / update from: February 17, 2025 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein
With the GS1 Smart Box and the 2D Datamatrix code from GS1 for intelligent logistics in the food distribution-Image: Xpert.digital
Digital transformation in the food industry: Like 2D codes reduce waste by 50 %
Parla Deli shows: With digitization to less food waste
The food industry will fundamentally transform the introduction of 2D codes and intelligent reusable containers. The Brazilian deli Deli brazilian deli is demonstrated by the integration of QR codes with GS1 Digital Link and the GS1 Smart Box , such as reducing digital technologies, automating processes and promoting sustainability. By combining precise data acquisition, real -time communication with suppliers and dynamic price adjustment, the company managed to reduce food waste by 50 %. This report analyzes the technological, operational and strategic innovations that made this success possible and illuminates its implications for the global food industry.
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Technological foundations: from 2D codes to intelligent logistics
The development of barcode technology
The transition of linear 1D barcodes to two-dimensional codes marks a paradigm shift in supply chain logistics. While traditional line codes were only able to encode the GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), 2D codes such as QR codes or GS1 Datamatrix enable the storage of additional data such as batch numbers, expiry data and serial numbers. The GS1 Digital Link-Syntax extends this functionality by providing a structured URL that links both machine-readable data and consumer facing content. At Parla Deli, each QR code contains the GTIN, lot number, production and expiry date, net weight and price, which enables seamless traceability and automated inventory management.
Data density and flexibility
A decisive advantage of 2D codes lies in its compactness: In the same room, they store up to 100 times more information than 1D codes. This capacity allows the embedding of dynamic data that can be updated with any scan. For example, Parla Deli uses the same code for warehouse management, cash accounting and consumer interaction - without having to make physical changes to the packaging.
Implementation at Parla Deli: A systemic approach
Automated waste reduction through real -time data
The heart of Parla Delis System is the link between 2D codes to a cloud-based ERP platform. When scanning the code at the cash register or in the warehouse, the expiry date and inventory are automatically recorded. Algorithms classify products based on their durability in three categories:
- Optimal freshness (more than 75 % of the durability remaining))
- Discount level 1 (50–75 % remaining)
- Discount level 2 (below 50 % remaining).
A standard-based system adapts the prices in real time, whereby the discount levels are transmitted to digital price tags and online shops. This approach reduced waste of perishable goods by 40 % within the first six months.
Integration of the GS1 smart box into the supply chain
Integration of the GS1 Smart Box into the supply chain-Image: GS1
The GS1 Smart Box -a standardized reusable container with Grai detection (Global Returnable Asset Identifier)-plays a central role in logistics. Each box is equipped with RFID tags and a 2D code that tracks the following:
- Location in real time
- Temperature curve (via IoT sensors)
- Fill weight.
This data flow into a forecast model that predicts the need for each branch. With Parla Deli, this reduced excess stocks by 30 % and improved delivery accuracy to 98 %.
Supply chain synchronization: From the supplier to consumer
Dynamic supplier communication
The Parla Deli ERP system is connected to the verified-by-gs1 network, a global validation service for product data. If sensors report a critical minimum stock in the smart boxes, the system automatically generates orders for pre-qualified suppliers. The specifications include:
- Required batch numbers
- Maximum transport duration (based on expiry data)
- Preferred smart box capacity.
Suppliers are given access to a real-time KPI dashboard that tracks their performance with delivery loyalty, cooling chain and container return.
Consumer interaction and circular economy
The GS1 Digital Link in QR code enables multifunctional consumer interaction:
- For scans in the shop: display of recipe suggestions and discounts
- Post-purchase: Access to certificates of origin and recycling information
- Return management: Automated reimbursement for quality defects, recognizable by the serial number.
Using a gamification app, customers collect points for scanning outdated products that they can redeem against sustainable products-an approach that lowered the waste rate by 8 %.
Ecological and economic effects
Reduction of food waste
Before the implementation, 18 % of Parla Delis landed in the trash. Due to the predictive order control and dynamic pricing, this quota dropped to 9 % - a saving of 62 tons of food per year. The smart box contributed 12 % to reduce by minimizing damage during transport.
Cost efficiency in logistics
The standardization on the GS1 Smart Box eliminated manual process steps:
- Commissioning time dropped from 45 to 12 minutes per pallet
- Truck utilization rose from 78 % to 94 % due to stackable containers
- Retour costs were reduced by 60 % thanks to RFID-based tracking.
The company saved a total of € 520,000 annually - with an amortization period of the technology investments of less than two years.
Challenges and limits of technology
Interoperability in heterogeneous supply chains
Despite the GS1 standards, Parla Deli met with compatibility problems: 23 % of the suppliers used outdated WMS systems that could not process GS1 digital links. The solution consisted of providing API adapters that translate GS1 data into proprietary formats.
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Data security and consumer trust
The storage of chargers in public QR codes required robust encryption. Parla Deli implemented a tokenized access: Sensitive data remain in a private blockchain, while the QR code contains only temporary access foxes.
Future perspectives: scaling and artificial intelligence
Predictive analytics for the supply chain 4.0
Parla Deli is currently testing a AI model that combines weather data, social media trends and historical sales patterns to predict the demand with 92 % accuracy. The system automatically recommends:
- Optimal discount levels for seasonal products
- Ideal smart box configurations for high season times
- Preventive maintenance intervals for cooling devices based on sensor data.
Global standardization requirement
While the EU prescribes comprehensive 2D code scanner at health insurers by 2027, the infrastructure is still missing in many regions. GS1 estimates that 35 % of SMEs need investment aids in emerging countries so as not to lose the connection.
Blueprint for a sustainable food industry
Parla Delis Success proves that the symbiosis of 2D codes, IoT-capable logistics and data-controlled decision-making enables a system change. The decisive factor was the holistic integration of all stakeholders - from suppliers to warehouse workers to end consumers. While technical hurdles such as interoperability and cybersecurity continue to represent challenges, the model offers a scalable solution for the UN targets to reduce food waste. The next evolutionary level will be the integration of decentralized ledgers in order to map supply chains completely transparently and genuinely.
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