1D (linear) barcodes such as EAN-13 or Code 128 usually hold just a product number. Retail and warehouses have used them for decades, and almost any scanner reads them.
2D codes such as DataMatrix, QR and PDF417 hold much more data in a small area: a serial number, batch, expiry date and a security element. That is why digital marking systems like Asl Belgi use DataMatrix.
The rule of thumb: if you only need to identify the product, 1D is enough. If you must track every single item or handle marked goods, you need an imager that reads 2D codes. Today many buyers simply choose a 2D scanner, because it reads both.