Why Traditional Anti-Counterfeit Solutions Are Becoming Obsolete
In 2026, if you’re still relying on traditional measures like holograms, serial numbers and barcodes, this is no longer a speculative question. Those tools belong to a different era, where supply chains were simpler and criminal activities less advanced.
Why have classical methods fallen behind?
Technological improvements have enabled more sophisticated methods of bypassing the first line of defence against fakery. For example, increasingly affordable printers have allowed criminals to reliably recreate holograms. Plus, their ubiquity has lessened their visual impact, as consumers have become accustomed to seeing them everywhere.
Similarly, it’s now relatively straightforward to duplicate or scrape serial numbers and QR codes, to be used on thousands of fake products. These will typically provide no guaranteed link to a genuine product record or inventory.
Traditional labels can physically degrade during real-world use, through transport, handling and storage. This makes them easy to reprint and be applied to huge numbers of inferior or unsafe counterfeit items.
How are quantum solutions leading the fight?
The quantum technology approach to anti-counterfeiting is to break this cycle of seeking to gain an advantage while the other side works to catch up. Rather than inventing ever more complex graphics that criminals then learn how to replicate, it creates security features that are fundamentally unclonable.
Q‑ID® tags use atomic-level imperfections in quantum materials to generate a unique ‘fingerprint’ for every item. This one‑of‑a‑kind digital signature can be implemented at the point of manufacture and is easily verified via a standard smartphone camera and flash.
The ease of introducing such tools into common printing processes means they can be deployed at scale across:
And many more applications, without slowing existing production methods or supply chains.
The phasing out of traditional methods
As global counterfeiting losses have surpassed several hundred billion dollars annually, it’s clear that many brands need to upgrade. Businesses relying solely on holograms and serials can no longer claim to be taking the fight against fakery seriously.
Similar tightening of compliance around products like pharmaceuticals, means that a quick fix or patch is no good. Long-term, futureproof solutions that satisfy both international legislation and consumer confidence are the best way to stay ahead of counterfeiters.
The future of anti-counterfeiting
By upgrading from traditional methods to quantum technology, brands can invest in proper protection. This means safeguarding not only their reputation and bottom line but also their customers’ wellbeing.
To learn more about Q-ID®’s advantages over traditional tools, please contact us.
