QR Codes – Continued Innovation

The odds are you have seen a QR Code in the last few months. You are seeing QR codes everywhere.

What are they? A QR Code is a two dimensional bar code that contains alphanumeric text that often features URL’s that direct users to websites. The linking to a website is a great way to learn about an object or a place or as we’ve seen recently in North Amercia, a product. Additionally, QR codes are getting known for “mobile tagging”. QR codes are showing up on labels, billboards, magazine and new ads. Currently, we are investigating using a QR code on our business cards. The QR Code is popular in Japan, used in commercial tracking, logistics, inventory control as well as advertising.

The code is read with decoding software that can be found in apps for smartphones making the QR code user-friendly and making available a full website, landing page or URL full of specific information. The codes can be created online using a QR Code generator as available at http://qrcode.kaywa.com/ .  You can code a URL (website), a text message (SMS), a phone number or just straight text or copy. A unique opportunity for marketers, putting specific, targetted information about their company, brand or product. As smartphone usage continues to grow, QR Codes will follow suit. I’m suggesting they will become part of everyday life due to the ability to provide specific, targetted, and variety of information.

Innovations going forward, such as museums, medical, food, as well, buildings, architecture, historical sites are other opportunities for use.

Smartphone apps are available for reading and redirecting your smartphone to the specific URL. I’ve been using the iPhone App “QR Reader for the iPhone” a free download from the Apple app store.

Another example of the change and transition of this era. The technology continues to grow at an unprecedented pace. As smartphone usage grows, so will the use of QR Code. You can read the codes off just about everything, paper, screens, billboards, even television. Going forward you will see QR codes in packaging, displays, labels and coupons. As your digital agency, we’d recommend you spend some time investigating QR codes and how you might implement them in your business. If you need some help, Ask Bick.

Try the reading the QR code on this page.

Michael, Bickerton, Raven5 Ltd, Toronto, March 2011

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