QR Codes – Past, Present & Future Original and even modern QR codes have undoubtedly evolved a lot. First, they were applied in manufacturing for the purpose of identifying the car components.
Today, QR codes are far from being an instrument for business only. They have become an indispensable component of various spheres in the sphere of economy: marketing, educating institutions, healthcare services, retail trade, etc. The problems with their original implementation have been that QR codes were quite basic and only provided links for almost all applications, which is no longer the case.
In this article we will review QR code history, present and future, with modern developed functionality being part of the focus. No matter if you are a business person, a student or just interested in technology, you will likely find this guide helpful.
QR code is actually a two dimensional barcode where data is stored. A QR code is like the older conventional system of the single line barcode labels that are usually found on products in shops, but a QR code contains more data. It can be read by smartphones or QR code readers, and as soon as the code is deciphered, viewers are redirected to a website or even an option for payment.
If used in the current world, QR codes were first designed in 1994 by Denso-Wave, a subsidiary of the Toyota Group, by a Japanese engineer called Masahiro Hara.
Holusha (2008) noted that they were initially developed for the identification of automotive automobile parts so that the rate of scanning is faster and more data capacity can be provided than barcodes.
While traditional barcodes which look more like the thin elevations that we see in some offices today can only manage about 20 characters, QR code can manage up to 7000 characters.
Though they were officially termed “bar codes,” Quick Response or QR for short, was specifically intended to put emphasis on the rapidity at which the codes could be read as well as decoded.
The popular use of QR codes among the population
QR codes were initially implemented and technically applied best in specificity in industrial utilization only. Although, the use of the codes predominately for consumer engagement increased as Smartphones flooded the market.
Nowadays, QR codes can be met in every sphere of life starting from restaurants and ending with successful marketing campaigns.
It has now become apparent that QR codes have in fact become part of the marketing mix. Companies stick QR codes on billboards, product labels, flyers, and even in television commercials.
These codes when scanned take the customer to a website, a promotional page or even profiles in the social media making it easier for the brands to market themselves to their audience. Employers employ these codes to give coupons, to provide additional information on a particular item, or even to get feedback from consumers.
Out of all the mobile uses, QR codes are popular in mobile payment. PayPal, Venmo and others, Alipay and WeChat also enable customers to pay by scanning QR codes.
This has embarked the revolution of the method of people making transactions especially in places like china where most people use QR code when making charges, even in local stores or in foods sold by chaps on the street.
In the healthcare setting, QR Code can be used to store patient information, medical records, and prescription information.
Medicine packaging einige of which include the usage of QR codes enables the user to prevent the usage of counterfeits through a secure and easy approach. In addition to easing accessibility to medical information in cases of a disaster, hospitals employ the use of QR codes.
Event Ticketing
Since its development, the use of QR codes has replaced paper tickets for concert, flights, conferences, and sports events in the event management industry. Participants can just scan the QR code at the gateways to get entry to the function faster and easier.
Education
In education, QR codes are applying and getting popular. Teachers use them to connect to an article, assignment, or another course material. Students may encode codes on posters or worksheets for purposes of accessing other teaching materials, other lessons, or to submit homework assignments.
A brief analysis of the changes that have occurred in the use of QR codes shows that these codes have the following enhanced properties: All of these innovations give QR codes a much higher utility for businesses, organizations, and individuals.
Dynamic QR Codes
While conventional QR code are rigid and unchangeable once created, dynamic QR code can be modified anytime after being created. This means that if, for instance, you want to change the URL linked to a QR code – say, wanting to link it to a different website or promotion – you do not have to generate a new code.
This is especially helpful for advertising strategies, as changes may have to be made as new steps in their progression are initiated.
Tracking and Analytics
The benefit associated with dynamic QR codes is tracking and analytics. For dynamic QR codes, you can track how many times the code has been scanned, in which location and at what time. All these can play an important role in making marketing decisions by giving insight into the consumers ‘behavioural responses as well as marketing communication initiatives.
For instance, the number of scans of the QR code on a flyer will help a business ascertain the success of the campaign.
Custom QR Codes
Flags on the QR codes: Custom QR codes can be generated in a way that has flags to blend with business or personality. This is so because one can change the colors, put logos and change the layout of the code as well.
Custom QR codes look great and keep the integrity of a brand’s visual aesthetic in mind. For example, a firm may place their logo at the center of a QR code making it not only a utility but also a marketing tool.
QR Codes for Social Media
Another good feature with the QR code is in linking the latter to social media accounts. They can just scan a code, which will then lead them to a corresponding company’s Facebook page, Instagram, or LinkedIn profile.
The latest, more sophisticated, QR codes also have options that allow the user to easily follow a given social media account with one scan.
Multi-Platform Integration
It isn’t a secret that QR codes are being incorporated into various other facets, including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). By pointing a phone’s camera at a QR code, users could instantly be taken to an AR or even a VR world to give entertainment, education or even marketing utility.
The Future of QR Codes
There is a good prospect for QR codes as technology remains updated. We can expect the following trends to shape the future of QR codes:
Technology & Integration with the Concept of the 5G technologies will make QR codes even more effective as their usage is already actively increasing now. Faster speed and low latency of 5G attributes to the rapid transfer of data, so it means QR codes can offer additional intricate and real-time applications.
Enhanced Security
With increasing cases of hacking, QR codes will change and designs that include added security features will be developed. This could include QR code comprising, of secured code that facilitates distinct secure transactions such as in banking and e-commerce.
Internet of Things (IOT) AND QR Codes
In addition, QR codes may be able to act as a link between different smart assets, especially as more and more devices become connected with the Internet of Things (IoT). Envision ordering groceries through your smart refrigerator, from controlling the refrigerator temperature just by using your wrist and a simple QR code technology on your smart watch.
Seamless Integration with AI
Extending on that, Artificial Intelligence (AI) could further boost the abilities of QR codes. For instance, smart QR codes could detect who the user is and then provide different content due to his or her choice or previous experience. This would offer consumers a very unique and interesting approach in their user experience.
Conclusion
Once born in the automotive manufacturing sector, now QR codes have seemed to become omnipresent tools of communication, payment, marketing etc. Today, they are much more than that; they have features such as content targeting, tracking and even support multiple platforms.
Regarding the further development, the particularistic signs, i.e. QR codes will only strengthen their position as the essential components of our digital environment. Whether used for a short and fast payment or for an integrated marketing communication campaign, QR codes are a reality of modern life and they are more effective than ever.
Thus, if the concept of QR codes has been newly introduced to your business, then now is the best time to fully unlock this potential. Thus, accept QR codes as something that is useful and innovative and be sure that it’s worth integrating it into your activity!
A QR (Quick Response) Code is a specific type of a matrix bar code that may be read by a user’s smartphone or any other device which has a camera and Reader application
QR Codes function where the code is captured through a smart phone’s camera and which then redirects the user to a particular website, offers contact details, or any other useful information.
Yes, QR Codes can be made to lead to particular information or alternatively made to link particular sites; they can also be made to have the company’s branding and style.
Therefore, some of the uses of QR codes may comprise of inventory management, product info or service info or even promotional information.
While barcodes are simply strips of black lines and spaces containing information readable by a scanner, QR codes can encode more intricacy of information and are even created to be scanned by Smartphone cameras and other cameras.