Global Barcode Printer - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

The Global Barcode Printer Market size is estimated at USD 4.52 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 5.55 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.18% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

The growth of asset tracking applications and increasing technological advancements in printing and printer technology are some of the major factors driving the growth of the global barcode printer market. Many industries are adopting labels and barcodes for their asset tracking and providing information about their products.

Key Highlights

• By product type, industrial printers are expected to account for the major market share over the forecast period. However, recent technological advancements, like wireless connectivity, are also boosting the mobile printer segment. Thermal barcode printers are extensively used across small and large enterprises to label and subsequently track the products shipped.
• The rising adoption of automatic identification and data capture technologies for enhancing productivity, along with the growing concerns regarding product safety and anti-counterfeiting, is also boosting the market for thermal printers. The increasing utilization of thermal printing technology in the latest on-demand printing applications further increases the scope of thermal barcode printers.
• Furthermore, the direct thermal technology that produces images using heat on a heat-sensitive substrate primarily serves the retail market, mainly for catchweight food labeling. It offers easy-to-use and reliability for short-life applications and delivers good low-cost barcodes at reasonable print speeds. These characteristics make direct thermal technology a choice for transit product identification and tracking labels, for example, for parcel distribution and outer case and pallet markings.
• Increased e-commerce resulted in an increased demand for barcode printing. This was satisfied through various efforts made by vendors and market investors alike. The development has been widespread, with interests ranging from printing barcodes to barcoding postage stamps to minimize wastage. Sometimes, a barcode is printed outside the booklet to identify the stamp barcodes inside.
• In July 2021, International Security Printers (ISP) invested in advanced hybrid printing, finishing, and inspection systems to further the development of barcoding postage stamps. The investments are diversified toward enabling postal authorities to add distinctive color-coded barcodes to stamps, placed along the stamp and separated by a perforation line.
• Moreover, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the studied market is further expected to propel demand, with healthcare increasing in demand. Furthermore, with several regions operating in lockdown, e-commerce sales are surging at an unprecedented rate, thus boosting the studied market.

Barcode Printer Market Trends

Retail Market is Expected to Witness the Largest Share

• The availability of inventory and an effective supply chain from e-commerce to brick-and-mortar stores is essential. According to the US Department of Commerce, retail sales are expected to reach 27.73 trillion by the end of 2020. The above number is only likely to increase owing to the global expansion of easily accessible e-commerce and mobile platforms, thereby fueling market growth over the forecast period.
• The barcodes enable the retailers to keep track of inventory, automate product re-ordering, compare sales of similar products of national brands vs. private labels, track product attribute preferences such as color, size, etc., customize targeted promotions based on customer buying habits, and identify what buying preferences a particular customer has.
• The two most widely accepted formats of retail barcodes globally are the EAN-13 (International Article Number) and UPC-A (Universal Product Code). GS1 provides a unique 12-digit UPC (Universal Product Code) or EAN company identification number that has to be entered into a UPC-A or EAN-12 barcode on your product's label. This is expected to make the players in the retail industry comply with such standards, fueling the market growth over the forecast period.
• Some of the industry's prominent players to cater to such requirements are coming up with product developments that enable them to boost the market growth. For instance, in December 2021, myBillBook, the Bengaluru-based fintech FloBiz announced the launch of its Point-of-Sale Billing solution for retailers and franchises. The retail industry accounts for 10% of India's GDP. Keeping this industry's scale and specific needs in mind, the solution has been designed to provide a faster billing experience using keyboard shortcuts and barcode scanning.

North America Is Expected to Hold Largest Market Share

• North America is one of the major investors and innovators in the market studied, owing to the high adoption rate of barcodes and labels across various industries. Moreover, the growing end-user industries in the region provide massive opportunities for vendors to invest in the regional market. Many of the significant market vendors are mainly from the United States. Hence, the region also has a high rate of innovation in the market studied.
• The massive growth of the e-commerce industry and the number of online shoppers have increased the need for customized and personalized marketing strategies. According to the US Census, the e-commerce boom revolutionizing the retail sector is expected to boost retail sales significantly. It also suggested that US retail sales increased by 13.1% in November 2021, compared to the same period in 2020, and online sales increased by 6.6%. The growth in e-commerce retail sales is further expected to increase the need for automated and advanced marketing procedures, thereby increasing the demand for ABM solutions.
• Similarly, in 2021, there were over 27 million e-commerce users in Canada, accounting for 72.5% of the Canadian population. According to the government's data, this is expected to increase to 77.6% in 2025. This is expected to create a massive demand for barcodes and labels. Additionally, Amazon launched its transparency program in the country to serialize the products sold on its platform by using a T-shaped QR-style tag to identify counterfeit items.
• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency, in December 2016, made amendments to nutrition labeling, which mandated the regulated parties to meet the new labeling requirements within a five-year transition period, during which they must comply with either the former or the new requirements. Such regulatory initiatives are expected to increase the use of barcodes and labels in consumer-packaged foods over the coming years.
• Moreover, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) adopted Digimarc Barcodes as an approved digital disclosure method for packaging containing bioengineered food, commonly known as genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Digimarc Barcode is a new-generation visually imperceptible barcode, which can be added to product packaging, retail labels, and hangtags. It may be scanned by compatible consumer phones, retail barcode scanners, and computer vision systems. It also eliminates the need to add a QR method to the product package design and fulfills the new federal regulations.

Barcode Printer Industry Overview

The competitive rivalry in the barcode printer market is high owing to some key players such as Zebra Technologies Corporation, and Avery Dennison Corporation, amongst others. Their ability to continually innovate their offerings has allowed them to gain a competitive advantage over their competitors. Through strategic partnerships and mergers and acquisitions, these players are expected to gain a strong foothold in the market.

• December 2021 - Honeywell launched its IMPACT series of barcode printers under the "Make in India" initiative. The four-inch desktop barcode printer is built for light-duty label printing requirements, and it supports thermal transfer/direct thermal printing, thereby enabling printing at 127mm/sec. IMPACT by Honeywell is a brand established specifically to cater to the growing mid-segment market in India.
• March 2021 - Brother Mobile Solutions announced the expansion of the Brother Titan Industrial Printer series with five enhanced four-inch industrial barcode label printers featuring internal rewinders for an increased use range. Built with metal, the portfolio includes an increased ribbon capacity, dual Wi-Fi/Bluetooth option, and PLC integration. The augmented range delivers clear barcode labels up to 600 dpi1 at speeds nearing 14 ips2.

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