How Innovative Brands Are Using QR Codes

Invented in 1994 by Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota, QR codes were initially developed to track automotive parts.

30 years ahead, approximately 89 million smartphone users in the U.S. scanned a QR code. Globally, the usage of QR codes has been growing significantly, with projections indicating that over 5.3 billion QR codes were used for coupon redemption alone until 2022.

Want to smash your networking? Click here and create your free digital business card & dynamic QR Code in 60 seconds 🔥

What You Should Know About The QR Codes

QR stands for "Quick Response," reflecting the code's purpose of providing rapid access to information. Initially used in manufacturing, QR codes became popular in marketing and consumer applications due to the widespread use of smartphones.

There are two primary types of QR codes: Static QR Codes and Dynamic QR Codes. Each type has distinct features and use cases.

Pros and Cons of Dynamic vs. Static QR Codes

As usual, everything we're using will have some good, and some bad sides. Let's see how we can transfer this to static and dynamic QR Codes.

Dynamic QR Codes

Pros:

• You Can Always Edit Them: The destination URL can be changed without altering the QR code itself, allowing updates to the linked content. ✅
• You can track Them: Businesses can track scan metrics, such as the number of scans, time, and location, providing valuable data for marketing analysis. ✅
• You Can Personalise Them: Dynamic QR codes can contain more information and functionalities, like form submissions and user authentication. Plus, you can use your brand colours & visual identity to fully customise the QR Codes (especially if you’re Tapni Business user) ✅

Cons:

• Monthly/Yearly Cost: Generally, dynamic QR codes require a subscription service to manage and track the data, leading to ongoing costs. 💸
• Dependency on Service Provider: Changes and updates depend on the service provider's platform and infrastructure. 📲

Static QR Codes

Pros:

• No Ongoing Costs: Once created, static QR codes are free to use without any subscription fees. ✅
• Simplicity: Easy to create and use for straightforward applications where the content doesn’t need updating. ✅

Cons:

• Non-Editable: The content linked to a static QR code cannot be changed once it’s generated. ❌
• Lack of Tracking: Static QR codes do not provide scan metrics, limiting the ability to analyse engagement and effectiveness. ❌

Based on everything said so far, and by knowing how QR Codes can actually help you in the networking & business, another question appears: how you can improve something you can’t measure?

What Problems QR Codes Solve?

There are few important points here:

1) You Can Easily Share Your Information: QR codes allow users to quickly access information, websites, and contact details without typing URLs or text manually. This enhances user experience by reducing friction. 🤩

2) You Can Enable Contactless Transactions: QR codes facilitate contactless payments, a feature that became especially valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has accelerated their adoption in retail, hospitality, and transportation sectors. 💳

3) You Can Make Your Marketing More Efficient: QR codes bridge offline and online marketing strategies, enabling businesses to engage customers through print media while directing them to digital platforms for more information or transactions. 📈

4) You Can Track The Usage: Businesses can track and analyse customer interactions with QR codes, gaining insights into engagement and behaviour. This helps in refining marketing strategies and improving customer service. 🔀

5) You Can Pay & Socialise Easier Than Before: QR codes are used for secure authentication processes, such as in event ticketing, access control, and identity verification. You’ve probably experienced this on music or cultural events, in hotels, and co-working spaces. 🔐

Why And How Big Brands Are Using The QR Codes?

Big brands, companies, and corporations are using QR codes for several key reasons:

• Brand’s Marketing Can Become More Effective: QR codes bridge offline and online marketing efforts, providing an interactive element to physical marketing materials like posters, flyers, and product packaging. For instance, a QR code on a product can link to a video demonstrating its usage or customer reviews.
• Customers Can Instantly Access The Informations: QR codes allow customers to instantly access detailed information about products, services, and promotions by scanning the code with their smartphones. This makes the customer experience way better by providing immediate access to relevant content.
• Promotional Offers and Discounts Can Be Easily Shared: Brands like Starbucks and McDonald's use QR codes to offer discounts and special promotions, driving sales and encouraging repeat business. And if you’re questioning if they’re using it in a good way, let’s just mention that the LTV (lifetime value) of a single Starbucks customer is almost $15,000.
• Online Stores Can Be Quickly Visited: QR codes can link directly to online stores or specific product pages, simplifying the purchasing process and increasing the likelihood of impulse buys.

On top of that, QR Codes can improve operational efficiency.

Amazon is using QR codes for tracking inventory in real-time, improving accuracy and efficiency in supply chain management. Amazon Go stores use QR codes as part of their "Just Walk Out" technology, which provides customers with Checkout-Free Shopping. Customers scan a QR code in the Amazon Go app when entering the store, which then tracks the items they pick up and charges their Amazon account automatically when they leave, eliminating the need for a traditional checkout process.

Credit: Kohl's/Amazon

Also, QR codes are included on Amazon packages to streamline the tracking and delivery process. Delivery personnel scan the QR code to update the status of the package in real-time, ensuring accurate and timely delivery updates for customers.

The world’s biggest sport brand, Nike, place QR codes on product tags, allowing customers to scan them to access detailed information about the product, including materials, manufacturing process, and available sizes or colours. If you visited New York City subway recently, Nike placed QR codes on posters in subway stations leading to a landing page for purchasing the new Nike Air Max sneaker line, driving sales and buzz. Cool + easy, right?

Credit: QR Code Tiger

The Nike app uses QR codes to provide members with exclusive benefits. When shopping in-store, members can scan QR codes to access special discounts, early product releases, and personalised recommendations. And, by the way, QR codes in the Nike Training Club app allow users to quickly access workout plans, tutorials, and fitness challenges. Scanning the code can bring up a detailed video demonstration or a step-by-step guide.

So, in general, Nike’s strategic use of QR codes across different aspects of their business exemplifies their commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions. 

In comparison with Amazon and Nike, one of the most prominent uses of QR codes at Starbucks is within their Starbucks Rewards loyalty program. Customers can link their Starbucks card to the app and use a QR code to pay for their purchases, earning rewards points for each transaction. This encourages repeat business and customer loyalty.

Credit: colorwhistle.com

Starbucks uses QR codes in its app and physical marketing materials to deliver personalised offers to customers. For example, scanning a QR code might provide a discount on a favourite beverage or introduce a limited-time promotion based on user’s purchase history.

If we look at the entire picture of how biggest brands & companies are using the QR Codes, there are several reasons why they’re keeping to do it, and how they’re benefit from using this technology:

1. Increase their sales by using QR Codes effectively - decision-makers will be able to track, measure, analyse and then make further steps based on the results from QR Codes campaigns & materials. 🚀

2. Improve brand awareness - this is a sustainability matter: paper to digital transformation is happening in front of our eyes. ™️

3. Save money & have bigger Return On Investment: QR codes will reduce the need for printing detailed brochures and catalogs, as all information can be accessed digitally.💰

How you can use QR Codes for Networking And Other Purposes?

Besides businesses, QR Codes can be very well used by any individual, especially if you’re trying to improve your networking skills, make a good first impression & offer your products and/or services to a wider audience. Here are some examples of how Tapni can help you:

• You can create your digital business card for free - in blink of an eye, right now.  ✅
• You can add 77+ applications to your Tapni Digital Business Card. No need for reprinting, and no more losing business cards: you can edit & control your data all the time. All edits are live immediately.  ✅
• You can customise QR Codes - what about QR Code with your logo, colours, and style? All that for free.  ✅
• You can integrate your Tapni Digital Business Card even with the Apple or Google Wallet, customise the design, and have a unique card in your wallet.  ✅
• You can add a QR Code to your email signature - make sure that your contact details are saved by adding the QR Code to your Email Signature.  ✅
• You can have your own link-in-bio, and create different link shorteners for anything you need to share with others.  ✅

You can choose one, combine or go all-in with these Tapni features that are based on the info sharing via QR Code. Throughout this blog we discovered how big brands, business giants and e-commerce leaders are using QR Codes for their own campaigns, visions and strategies. You’re not any different: you and that idea or project you’re working on needs a proper online presence: effective, easy-to-remember, and cool at the same time.

Tapni Suite provides all of that - and what’s better than when you find all the needed tools at one place?

You can use the QR Codes as a business card, as a link shortener, as a part of your Apple/Google Wallet, or to make your email signature the most popular one in your networking community. And above all that, you’ll be able to track, analyse and then use the informations and metrics that Tapni is collecting with you.

Tapni is not there only to help you in sharing and/or collecting leads: our products & services are trying to make sure that you’re increasing sales by attracting more people, and create successful communities.

Create your free digital business card now and explore multiple of features Tapni offers to make your interactions faster and more effective. Visit Tapni to get started and discover how you can integrate modern technology into your daily interactions for maximum impact.