The Resurgence Of Secure QR Code As A Marketing Tool

 

The use of QR code has peaked extensively over the years. Especially after the pandemic hit the world, the adoption and utilization of touchless technologies including QR codes skyrocketed globally.

As per a research report, 83% of respondents agreed to use QR code due to COVID-19. While it is true that the 2020 pandemic boosted the QR code usage around the world, the advancements in this technology has also a lot to do for its popularity.

It was only a decade ago that marketers were of the belief that the QR code tech was unreliable. But the year 2021 saw the resurgence of QR code with the development of trusted solutions such as the secure QR code generator.

There were many companies who were integrating QR code into their business operations, whether it was in a major way or as a mere marketing campaign. There was one UK-based marina group that used QR code tech as an integral system to capture as many as 900 customer signups.

In this blog, we will delve into this case study and see how QR code has evolved along with its current status in offering more benefits to businesses across different industries. Keep on reading till the end to learn more.

The Origin Of QR Code - A Quick Rundown

QR codes stands for Quick Response codes and are technology dedicated for the storage of information. They consist of data in a format that can be scanned and read using compatible devices.

Founded in 1994 by Masahiro Hara and his team of engineers at Denso Wave, the QR code technology was invented as a result of developing a high storage alternative to barcode technology.

As per Mr. Hara’s statement, the QR code invention was made to help the warehouse applications. Since the 1990’s, there was a shift observed from mass production of one type of product to a flexible production. This switch demanded comprehensive production control at manufacturing sites.

The barcode technology was falling short to capture the increased data that was generated during production. This ultimately led to the development of QR codes which in its standard format has the capacity to store up to 3 Kb of data.

Evolution of QR Code in The World Of Marketing

Back in the early and mid 2000’s the marketing domain dealt with the challenge of engaging people to visit a digital platform or website. Traditionally, marketers used to simply print the web address on print materials like magazine ads or posters.

However, this tactic was not viable and effective as people found it difficult to remember the address and even was hassling to type the address manually. But around 2010’s QR code emerged as a possible solution to this problem.

These two-dimensional square codes could be easily added to print materials, and people could scan them using their smartphone cameras to quickly access a digital destination. It was a novel and convenient way to bridge the gap between print and digital channels.

But things didn't turn out as seamlessly as it was expected to be. The initial iterations of QR code technology required people to download special apps to scan the code. Also, the smartphone cameras were not compatible to read the QR code. This led marketers to believe that QR code was an outdated technology.

However, as we all know technology does not remain the same and gradually with the advancements things took a turn. Smartphones started to have better camera hardware and built-in software that could interpret QR codes without the need for additional apps. 

This made it easier for people to scan QR codes and improved the user experience. QR codes started making a comeback, and by 2020, they were popular as a marketing tool and for transferring information, such as replacing printed instruction manuals for appliances.

But that is not all, QR code itself evolved with better features. Integration of blockchain with QR code resulted in improved security of data or information that was stored in it. ProofEasy is one of the many examples that uses blockchain secure QR code to ensure document security.

Coming to the Case Study: How A Marina Group In UK Used QR Codes To Garner 900 Email Signups

Now that we have covered the origins and evolution of QR codes, let’s see a real-life scenario where a marina group in the UK was able to successfully collect 900 signups from customers in three weeks time. The core of this marketing campaign was the use of QR codes.

The particular company was having a tough time boosting engagement in its digital platforms. As most of its customers were inclined towards the consumption of traditional media rather than the digital. This posed a great challenge for the company.

In 2020, the company launched a bunch of new products and even made changes to its existing services. However, the marina group needed an opportunity to ensure their boater customers could tap in information on their latest offering.

That’s when they decided to leverage the power of QR code technology into their marketing campaign. They started to deploy QR codes across a range of marketing channels.

From printed notices, posters to benefits cards, the QR codes were incorporated into the three marketing campaigns. According to the marketing head of the company, this worked like a charm as QR codes bridged the gap between traditional and digital media.

So, even if customers were handed out print materials like posters, benefit cards, etc. the QR code on them intrigued them to scan. This resulted in successful email signups from as many as 900 customers and that too in only 3 weeks time frame.

Leveraging The Power Of QR Code

As we witness from this case study, QR codes are not just a digital technological solution but an incredible medium to link traditional and modern systems. ProofEasy is one such platform that uses the power QR code to create verifiable documents.

The platform utilizes QR code and blockchain tech integration to develop a highly secure interface where users can upload sensitive documents and protect them from frauds and other online threats.

The use of QR code on documents makes the verification process fast, easy and secure. Additionally, the encrypted QR codes can be scanned only by authorized parties  ensuring the documents are accessed and shared to trusted users.

If you want to know more about ProofEasy and how it uses this resurgence technology of QR code in its platform then visit their website.