What Are QR Codes?

More consumers have smart phones nowadays. This increased penetration is driving a marketing revolution in stores that connects the online world of information with the physical shelf. In many ways, the enabler of this revolution is the QR Code that manufacturers and retailers are using to reach out to customers with a variety of inventive content as simple as a coupon, or as complex as a product demonstration video. Shoppers aim their smart phone camera at a barcode on, say, a package, store circular, shelf tag or other POP, and then link to the content, which ideally they will find valuable enough to drive loyalty to the brand or store.

The Quick Response, or QR, Code is a proprietary name from Japan's Denso Wave for a new generation of barcodes that can now be read by mobile smart phones. These can be used for many purposes determined by the manufacturer or retailer, such as providing more product information, product demonstrations, or Internet links to related content...

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