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How Barcode Scanning Transformed Retail Productivity
In this episode of The Productivity Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the surprisingly deep economic impact of the barcode—a technology so ubiquitous we barely notice it. The conversation starts with a single grocery store in Troy, Ohio, where in 1974 a pack of Wrigley's gum became the first item scanned at a checkout. From there, they trace how the Universal Product Code (UPC) didn't just speed up lines; it changed the entire retail supply chain. Lucas explains the 'barcode dividend'—how the data captured at checkout gave retailers unprecedented visibility into inventory…
The skinny
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