First Barcode Scanned: Retail Revolution Begins in Ohio
A cashier at Marsh Supermarket in Troy, Ohio, scanned a ten-pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit chewing gum at 8:01 AM on June 26, 1974, completing the first retail transaction using the Universal Product Code (UPC) barcode. The barcode system had been conceived in 1948 by Norman Woodland, who drew the first design in the sand at a Miami Beach, and refined over 25 years. IBM's George Laurer designed the final UPC symbol. The technology was initially resisted by consumers who feared it would allow stores to eliminate individually priced items. Retailers adopted it because it reduced checkout time by 30% and eliminated pricing errors. Today, over 6 billion barcodes are scanned daily worldwide, and the system underpins the entire global supply chain, from manufacturing to inventory management to point-of-sale.
June 26, 1974
52 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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