Which invention, first used commercially in 1974 on a pack of Wrigley's chewing gum, revolutionized retail by enabling automated checkout and inventory tracking?

The retail landscape has been transformed by numerous groundbreaking inventions and technological discoveries. From simple barcode scanners to complex recommendation algorithms, these innovations have revolutionized how products move from manufacturer to consumer. This trivia question focuses on a pivotal invention that fundamentally changed product tracking, inventory management, and the entire shopping experience worldwide.

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Universal Product Code (UPC) barcode
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag
Electronic shelf label (ESL)
Near-field communication (NFC) chip