May 4, 2021

Yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks when that dog is QR technology;

Yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks when that dog is QR technology;

COVID has seen an explosion of old barcode tech put to new use

By Paula ArabThey are everywhere. QR codes are now as ubiquitous as people in masks.For marketers, QR codes have been around a long time, since at least 1994. Short for quick response, these barcodes are filled with juicy digital information and were created by the automotive industry in Japan. You take a picture of the code with your smart phone, and up pops customized data that the company wants to share with or market to its customers.The trend first went mainstream 10 years ago as more people started to own smart phones. But it was short-lived. By 2013, their obituary was written by at least one tech writer, Aaron Strout. In an article headlined “The Death of the QR Code,” Strout asked: “When was the last time you scanned a QR code? Be honest. If it was in the last month, are you hooked? Yes, that was a rhetorical question because I can’t name one person I know (who) actively scans QR codes, and I’ll bet if you ask your network, neither can you.”I wonder what the answer to that question would be today, now that COVID has created an instant demand for touchless technology.When it comes to QR codes, it’s not a case of COVID accelerating a digital trend but one where timing is everything, and for barcode technology, it’s time has finally come. Today, their use keeps getting better and better, and more creative.When it comes to brands effectively using QR codes to communicate and connect with their customers there are a few ways to get it right.

Convenience: Save Time

An example we love recently is making a lunch reservation on the ski hill. How easy is this? No more waiting in line or for someone to answer the phone to make a reservation. No more missing out on a seat because you skied that “one more run” and, like everyone else on the hill, waited until noon to think about lunch.Reserving your spot on the ski hill is now just one camera click away.

Money Doesn't Talk: Your Phone Does

Most restaurants have utilized QR codes for their menus to avoid extra touch points with hard copies. Some restaurants have also implemented the ability to pay for your meal through the QR code link. At Earls, you’re able to order your food and pay for your meal all through the QR code on the table. Now you don’t have to wait for the server to bring you the cheque. Pay and Go has never been easier. (Thank God!)

Customer Reviews

Every business benefits from customer reviews but sometimes it can be painful to get anyone to participate. You’ll get better feedback (or at least more of it) if you make it quick and easy by providing a QR code that goes directly to the feedback form.

Offer Something New

Brand experience is one of the biggest advantages you can give customers through the QR code. Do it. If someone is taking the time to scan the code, offer them a memorable brand experience. The landing page should be easy to navigate, provide quick information and set up the customer journey. For example, you could have people enter a contest through a QR code and then provide them with more valuable information about your product or service before they exit out of the page.

Better Information?

Remove the barrier of misinformation with a QR code that answers commonly asked consumer questions. This could possibly in future replace product labels and provide customers with things like warranty information, where is this product manufactured, and instructions on how to use it.Technology has amplified a consumer’s need for instant information. QR codes are one solution that provides your customers with the information they’re looking for as well as the opportunity for powerful brand engagement. However, using a QR code just for the sake of having one is a quick way to lose a customer’s trustTell us what about your favourite, most creative examples of QR codes and how they are used to better serve you, make your lives easier, or simply act as a tool for meaningful connections between brands and their customers.