Are GS1 Digital Link and Smart, Connected Packaging the same thing?
Are GS1 Digital Link and Smart, Connected Packaging the same thing?
Not exactly—but they’re deeply connected. Both help brands provide detailed product information via QR codes. While GS1 Digital Link is a universal barcode standard, smart, connected packaging is a broader concept that uses QR codes (and other triggers) to engage consumers, deliver transparency, and support traceability throughout the product's lifecycle.
Smart, connected packaging includes labels, inserts, and packaging that use QR codes to provide consumers with more than just printed information. This can include:
- Ingredients, nutrition, and allergen details
- Sustainability and sourcing information
- Recipes, videos, and how-to guides
- Product authentication or regulatory disclosures
- Traceability and supply chain visibility
Platforms like SmartLabel® are often used as destinations, but the term extends beyond that — enabling brands to build trust, meet compliance requirements, and offer post-purchase engagement.
GS1 Digital Link is a global standard that converts product identifiers (such as GTINs) into URLs. A single GS1 Digital Link-enabled QR code can:
- Be scanned at retail POS
- Connect to SmartLabel®, product pages, or instructions
- Route based on language, location, or device
- Enable product recalls, verification, or serialization
- Support traceability, blockchain, and compliance
With resolver logic, you can future-proof packaging by updating destinations over time—without changing the code.
Key Differences
|
Feature |
Smart, Connected Packaging |
GS1 Digital Link |
|
What it is |
A way to connect physical packaging to digital content |
A global standard for web-enabled barcodes |
|
Purpose |
Consumer Engagement, Product InformationTransparency, Traceability |
POS Transactions, Product Information, Supply Chain Traceability, Consumer Engagement |
|
QR type |
Any QR (static or dynamic) |
Standards-based dynamic or static QR |
|
POS compatibility |
Not always |
Yes |
|
Uses resolver? |
Optional |
Optional |
|
Delivr support |
Full ecosystem support |
Fully GS1-aligned |
More brands are adopting GS1 Digital Link as the backbone of their connected packaging strategy. It simplifies things by using a single QR code for both consumer and supply chain use—eliminating the need for multiple codes on pack.
Delivr makes connected packaging scalable and straightforward. As a GS1-aligned, DENSO-licensed platform, we help brands:
- Launch GS1 Digital Link–enabled QR codes
- Power SmartLabel® and other product experiences through one code
- Support serialization, batch traceability, and blockchain
- Maintain privacy, compliance, and seamless user experience
Let’s talk about how to power your smart, connected packaging with GS1 Digital Link