QR Code 101 – How to use QR codes for your business?

What is a QR code and where did it originate?

The little world of Quick Response codes or QR codes came into existence in 1994. It is a computer-generated barcode acting as an intermediary between the human and digital world.

It was designed in the factory of the Japanese carmaker ‘Denso Wave’. The QR code was founded purely for rapid and accurate tracking of vehicles & components it manufactures. Each component was given a unique code and when others scanned the code, it unraveled and displayed the information it housed.  

While QR inherited its roots from the standard barcode reader, it is two dimensional, scanning from top to bottom and right to left. This gives more room for storing data using four encoding modes (numeric, alphanumeric, byte/binary and kanji). QR codes share information through URL Links, phone numbers, images / text, geographical positioning, etc.

What can we do using a QR code?

Businesses just started realizing the potential behind a QR code. The pandemic era further facilitated it, by eliminating physical proximity and promoting online activities.  

QR is now immensely used for tracking time, product location in supply chains, item linking, document management and marketing. Therefore, any business can use them in their printed goods from business cards, flyers, menus, marketing materials etc. without hesitation.  

Let us analyze how to use them in your business

1. Entertain customers to your website:

The most common but effective way is to link the business website with your business cards, brochures or flyers etc.  Through this, it helps the prospective customer learn about your brand.  Once customer scan your code, they are transferred directly to your home page or products page, depending on your business strategy.

2. Enlist your company name in customers’ contact list:

We have often heard that “out of sight is out of mind”, so make sure that allow for easy connectivity to your customers. They should not be looking around for your contact information. Let every package or correspondence to your customers share a QR code connecting directly to your customer care team. 

3. Engage with your customers to download the company application from the web:

With the world already in your palms, QR codes should give access to download the application from the website. With this application, the customers will have prior knowledge of the latest products, promotions, sales etc. They can prioritize the requirements accordingly.

4. Entice your customers with discounts and coupons:

One of the promising ways to make an impact on your business practice is to entertain customers with discounts and coupons. The QR code either directs the customer to the app or allows them to enter a coupon code to their account on your website. Delivering QA code coupons is a new way to entice them.

5. Encourage your customers through social media account:

QA codes give access to company resources or other social media accounts, where you share tips on Covid precautions, inspirational quotes, real life incidents, benefits of using company products etc. This will help customers understand your company standing on products and/or awareness of social causes.

The prudence to a run business in today’s world is creating alternative solutions using digital technology. QR codes are acceptable and cost-effective solutions, even after the post pandemic era. Accept change and implement it in your business for better customer satisfaction.