The QR Code Finally Grows Up
A decade ago, QR codes were considered the ultimate “killer app” that would fully capitalize on the potential of mobile-enabled consumers. Indeed, QR codes became enormously popular in other parts of the world, particularly China. Roughly 50% of Chinese consumers now use QR codes several times each week for everything from digital payments and church donations to wedding gift giving and identification cards for senior citizens.
Here in the U.S.? Not so much. Use of QR codes languished as American consumers grew bored with the often unimaginative applications devised by marketers. Scanning a QR code to visit a corporate website was not exactly cutting-edge stuff, after all. And then along came COVID-19.
Literally overnight, hesitant Americans encountered the burning platform they needed to embrace QR codes. Contactless payments, kiosks, restaurant menus, hotel check-in, curbside pickup and more suddenly gave rise to the use of QR codes in nearly every imaginable consumer setting. The pandemic also serendipitously coincided with native QR code scanning capabilities being added to the cameras of both Apple and Android phones.
Today, QR codes are considered the Comeback Kid of the marketing world with innovative new uses being presented each day. This resurgence is also being fueled in part by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations requiring QR codes on product labels for food, drugs, cosmetics and medical devices. Indeed, the smart packaging market is now expected to reach $7.6 billion annually by 2023 as QR codes are increasingly used to bridge the gap between digital and brick and mortar retailing.
Taylor works with clients to incorporate QR codes into a wide variety of printed materials. From in-store signage and window decals to product labels in every size, shape and format, we’ve had a front-row seat for the QR code’s remarkable turnaround in 2020-2021. Chalk it up as another example of the transformative impact of COVID-19 on our culture and economy.
If you’ve been thinking about utilizing QR codes for your business but are uncertain on how to get started, contact us, and we can walk through the process to see if it might be a good fit.
