Why Should My Business Use QR Codes?

QR Codes Are Everywhere Today

QR codes have been around for quite a few years, but it seems like they are everywhere now, right?

This is partly because consumers understand that it is a signal to pull out their mobile phones and scan, and partly because businesses/organizations/institutions have started using QR codes to a much greater extent.

But we have only just begun. QR codes that lead a user to a digital experience of some kind depend on that digital experience. The development where more and more in the business world is digital is accelerating, driving the value of using QR codes.

One example is a manual for a Husqvarna lawnmower.
First, it existed in paper format, sent in the box when purchased.
Then Husqvarna got a website, and the printed manual now included a link.
After a while, you could also independently search for a manual as a PDF.
And now, today, there’s a larger website for the product, where you can download the PDF manual, but also do other things related to the lawnmower, like this example from Husqvarna’s amazing website.
Tomorrow, there might even be videos there, or a 3D model of the lawnmower, or a podcast where resourceful Smålanders discuss how to best maintain the lawnmower. And so on in the future.

The point is that the more that is done digitally, the more important it becomes to send customers (or employees) there. QR codes are one way to accomplish that.

So What Can a Business Use QR Codes For?

Here’s the thing—QR codes can be used for an incredible variety of things. If you understand how a business operates and how QR codes work, a whole world of possibilities opens up very quickly.

The obvious use seems to be for marketing. “Scan me to join our customer club” and similar prompts have been on Coca-Cola cans and electronics manuals for years, and I even saw a few in Super Bowl commercials this year.

And yes—marketing is definitely one application for QR codes. But there are many, many more.

A code in the shopping mall that leads to opening hours. A code in the gas station restroom that leads to a cleaning checklist. A code in the deli that directs customers to a page where they can see prices and offers. A code in the hotel room that leads to a page with room service. A code on the truck that directs to safety regulations. A code on the club’s trophy that links to the club champions’ page.

Yes, and so on. It’s easy to come up with ideas, and it’s also easy to implement/test in most cases. This is one of the strengths of QR codes—they are simple and practical. In a digital world where much that is new is always complicated and messy, this is particularly valuable.

A QR code doesn’t do much. But it can be used for a lot.

What Do You Need to Do to Get Started?

The first thing you need to do is understand what a QR code can be used for. How the pixels are arranged or how to put your logo in the center is not nearly as interesting; the value lies in how and for what QR codes can be used.

A person sees my QR code where I’ve set it up, pulls out their mobile phone, scans it, and they are taken to the website I’ve associated with the code. So simple, and so powerful in the right context.

Then you’ll probably want to try it out and see how it works. You need to be able to create codes easily, but also print or at least obtain image files. Once you’ve set up a code, you’ll obviously want to know if it’s being scanned. All of this is something dinqr can help you with.

It’s probably not harder than that; the rest is about the business finding situations within its operations where this is useful and adds value. You and your employees are best positioned to do this. Dinqr is here to help you.