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Can I shorten the URL used in my QR code powered by GS1?
In most retail and on‑pack use cases, no.
While GS1 Digital Link URLs can technically be compressed, GS1 General Specifications do not allow compressed URLs for trade items that may be scanned at point of sale or used on extended packaging.
This is because most scanners and retail systems cannot yet reliably read or process compressed Digital Link URLs. Using compression could prevent the barcode from working as intended.
To ensure compatibility today — and readiness for future retail scanning — the standard, uncompressed GS1 Digital Link format should be used.