- Walmart’s Hidden Barcodes are used on Great Value products to prevent shoplifting and skip scanning at self-checkout.
- The technology scans products from any angle, making theft much harder.
- Walmart also cuts jobs and manages tariffs to keep prices stable despite rising costs.
Walmart uses a clever trick to catch shoplifters and stop customers from skipping item scans at self-checkout. Since 2019, many Great Value products have invisible barcodes printed all over their packaging. These hidden codes don’t show to the naked eye but scanners can detect them from many angles. A Walmart employee recently showed this in a viral TikTok video. She scanned six Great Value items, aiming her scanner at their middles rather than the normal barcode area. The scanner still read the items perfectly, surprising many viewers. This secret helps Walmart prevent theft by making it harder to avoid scanning products during checkout.
Viral TikTok Reveals Hidden Codes on Walmart’s Budget Products
The TikTok clip from user @beatsbycait caught the attention of thousands. She demonstrated how the hidden barcodes work in real life by scanning the products at different spots. This means customers don’t have to point the scanner directly at the standard barcode to ring up an item. The video made many shoppers rethink how self-checkout machines work and left some feeling cautious about trying to skip scanning. The hidden barcodes work like a safety net for Walmart’s self-checkout system. They catch items even if shoppers try to trick the system by scanning only some products.
Technology Behind Invisible Barcodes: How It Makes Theft Harder
The invisible barcode technology comes from Digimarc, a company that has offered this system for five years. Walmart uses this tech to improve its checkout process and reduce loss from shoplifting. Unlike regular barcodes, these codes cover the entire product packaging, allowing scanners to pick them up no matter where customers scan. This makes it difficult for someone to get away without scanning every item. Digimarc’s CEO, Riley McCormack, praised Walmart for being a leader in adopting new technology. He also mentioned that their partnership will grow in the future, bringing more innovations to stores.
Walmart’s Efforts to Simplify Business and Speed Innovation
Besides fighting theft, Walmart recently announced cutting over 1,000 corporate jobs. The company aims to simplify its structure, remove extra layers of management, and speed up decisions. Walmart’s US CEO John Furner and Global CTO Suresh Kumar explained that faster innovation helps them stay competitive in a fast-changing world. They want employees to move quickly and bring new ideas to customers. This internal change shows Walmart’s focus on efficiency and adapting to modern retail challenges.
How Tariffs and Trade Tensions Affect Walmart’s Pricing Strategy
Trade tensions and tariffs add more pressure on Walmart. Earlier this year, Walmart leaders met with President Trump to discuss tariffs on Chinese goods. Trump lowered some tariffs, but Walmart still faces higher costs it can’t fully absorb. CEO Doug McMillon said Walmart’s tight profit margins make it hard to cover all these expenses. Trump pushed Walmart on social media to “eat the tariffs” and not pass costs to consumers. Later, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Walmart agreed to absorb some tariffs while passing others onto shoppers. This balance shows how Walmart manages rising costs without shocking customers with sudden price jumps.
Understanding the Real Hidden Code: Watch for Price Changes and Product Availability
Walmart’s invisible barcode system helps with theft prevention, but the bigger secret might be about prices. Shoppers need to watch prices carefully as tariffs and other factors cause changes. Products might disappear or get more expensive due to these pressures. The hidden barcode tech protects Walmart’s revenue, but customers still face price shifts. Knowing when prices rise or fall can help shoppers save money and make smarter choices.
