Inmar, a company that operates intelligent commerce networks, announced that it will host a webinar, in conjunction with GS1 US, on the GS1 DataBar for coupons — and the current state of the industry’s transition — at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, August 12. The program will be hosted by Amber Shew, Product Analyst and Certified Barcode Consultant from Inmar and Alan Garton, Vice President of Member Programs with GS1 US.

Amber and Alan will discuss the capabilities of the GS1 DataBar for coupons as well as critical elements to consider when moving toward implementation. Focus will be given to both the required and optional data elements with a primer provided on terminology. Along with a review of the transition timeline there will also be an opportunity for attendees to pose questions to the hosts on any matter relating to the GS1 DataBar and its deployment.

According to GS1 US, the GS1 DataBar (formerly Reduced Space Symbology or RSS) symbols can be used on small items and carry more information than the current EAN/UPC bar code. GS1 DataBar provides product identification for hard-to-mark items like fresh foods and can carry information such as supplier identification, lot numbers, and expiration dates. This new technology also creates the opportunity for solutions supporting product authentication and traceability, product quality and effectiveness, variable measure product identification, and couponing.

GS1 DataBar for coupons, which was introduced in 2008, enhances couponing capabilities by supporting more complex coupon offers, allowing multiple brand offers to be system validated, expands discount price options, and enables expiration dates to be encoded.