Qr Codes Are Making A Comeback In 2021
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QR Codes Are Making A Comeback in 2021

Ever heard of QR codes?

Unless you work in the marketing industry, chances are you’ve probably only heard of them occasionally.

A QR code is essentially an enhanced version of the average barcode. However, they can hold roughly 350 times the amount of information that could be stored on a typical one dimensional barcode. 

QR codes saw a sharp increase in popularity when they were first introduced, but then started steadily declining in popularity when they were not widely adopted by Apple and Samsung smart phone manufacturers.

In addition, WiFi technology had made serving in-store advertising easier, which pushed QR codes further down the “must have” list.

During the month of June 2011, 14 million American mobile users scanned a QR code or a barcode. Some 58% of those users scanned a QR or barcode from their homes, while 39% scanned from retail stores; 53% of the 14 million users were men between the ages of 18 and 34.

QR code usage decreased to 9.76 million in 2018 but is expected to grow to a total of 15 million households by the end of 2021.

This is largely due to the newer smart phones adopting the technology “natively”, meaning, you don’t need to download a third party app, it’s built right into the phone camera.

The pandemic also created a huge need for QR codes with contactless shopping and delivery. I t also created a need for communicating information without touching an item others had touched, too. This meant developing a way to communicate lots of information quickly without touch. Rather than reinvent the wheel, marketers and computer techs realized the power of QR codes to do exactly what is needed.

The humble QR code stepped in to provide a succinct way to communicate information and complete transactions. A business can provide a QR code for customers to scan that lets them instantly register for delivery programs, loyalty programs, etc. It provides a method of completing contact-free retail purchases via mobile wallet. According to Juniper Research, by 2025 about 2.2 billion people will use QR codes for payments. That’s nearly one-third of smartphone users – 29 percent.

Qr Codes Are Making A Comeback In 2021 - Women Shopping

What is a QR code?

The term QR code refers to a Quick Response (QR) code. A smartphone can read this two-dimensional code using its camera. This lets retailers place these codes in store windows or at checkout stands or on the aisles of a store to provide consumers with a way of quickly scanning to obtain more information.

Consumers can also create QR codes using the retailer’s website or an app. These codes can contain the information from a coupon, gift certificate, or online order number. By displaying their cell phone at the register, the sales representative can scan the item using the register wand. Neither party needs to touch, and the entire transaction can occur through a clear plexiglass sneeze guard.

Qr Codes Are Making A Comeback In 2021 - QR Code Scanning

Which country has the largest QR code adoption?

Asia, specifically China, uses QR codes most frequently. It has also seen the greatest adoption of e-wallets such as WeChat and AlliPay. In 2019, almost half of the point-of-sale payments in that country used QR codes, a total of 48 percent.

Plaid and PayPal have introduced a QR code option. This lets users of those two worldwide payment services use the technology to accept or make payments.

According to a 2019 Deloitte Mobile Consumer Survey, 91 percent of Australians own a smartphone. Only ten percent of those use QR payments though, says a Roy Morgan report from the same year. Australia’s mature market with widespread NFC and a massive 900,000 point of sale (POS) devices make it easy for the country’s residents to make contactless payments. In 2019, most of the country’s purchases were contactless – 83 percent. Since its populace would likely immediately adopt a QR code option, its federal government plans a national plan it will implement in 2021.

New Zealand joined the fray in 2020 when the Union Pay International (UPI) system it uses introduced a consumer payments QR code program. Australian retailers can also use the UPI system. Its competitor, Azupay, and the regional NSW government partnered to offer QR code payments.

Qr Codes Are Making A Comeback In 2021 - QR Code Scanning at a Grocery

QR Codes = Simplicity and Usefulness

As part of a payments system, the simple technology has grown quickly due to its easy adoptability and adaptability. It requires no extra hardware since the user’s smartphone can scan the code to complete the transaction. This use of existing hardware also makes the QR code more convenient. Although a tiny two-dimensional picture, a single code holds lots of information. Its data capacity is such that it communicate payment, identity, and loyalty.

Some older phones require a separate app. Newer smartphones come ready to scan though. They use built-in software. This means any customer with a smartphone can install the app needed to read the codes which are also free.

Its only two drawbacks include risk of fraud since a customer could scan a fake code which results in them completing a phone call they’re charged for or otherwise losing money and privacy issues. The customer may not immediately understand what information the QR code accesses or uses.

Qr Codes Are Making A Comeback In 2021 - QR Code Scanning at a Restaurant

QR as a Marketing Tool

The QR code offers an opportunity for retailers to market their products or business more effectively. Because it can quickly communicate information, the codes provide a useful mechanism with many uses including:

  • Restaurants: communicating the entire menu through a code to eliminate hands-on menus. The restaurants’ website or app also enables touchless, contactless ordering.
  • Hotels: provide contactless check-ins, room service menus and ordering mechanisms, lighting and air conditioning controls.
  • Museums and art galleries: provide visitor maps and guides.
  • Medical facilities: communicate health education materials.

Other ways to use the QR code include as an advertising tool. Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram require a square photo or graphic.

When you create an ad on Facebook, it warns you not to use text. The reason for this is because ads with lots of text simply don’t perform that well. Using a QR code lets you embed the code in the center of the graphic, and this enables you to put all a large amount of text in the page which the QR code sends the visitor to.

You can communicate all the information you need in that one QR code.

Your one sentence headline can be concise and direct, while the QR code carries all of the extra information. Users can like your post and scan the QR code to gain access to more information. This lets you embed a paragraph on a code so you can provide users with details instead of the bare minimum.

Similarly, you use QR codes to sell products. A customer only needs to scan the code to order the product. You can set up an entire store on any platform even if it does not offer an e-commerce option or interface with a store environment like Etsy.

In Conclusion

QR codes can help you accept orders, take payments, advertise products, offer coupons, communicate information. You can create a QR code that houses your entire menu or sells a t-shirt.

Provide a QR code on a poster to link to a website with further information. Gyms can use them to educate consumers on how to use each piece of equipment or use them so patrons can check in on each apparatus.

Any time you need to graphically communicate lots of info at once, leverage a QR code. They’re not just for e-books anymore.

While they did wane in use for a little while, once people could not enter stores, they made a comeback.

Whether you use a tablet, smartphone, or a computer, you can create, obtain, or access a QR code. This makes it simpler for all sizes of businesses to utilize this technology and improve their sales, tracking, and customer service.

Qr Codes Are Making A Comeback In 2021 - QRStuff.com

If you’re searching for a free QR code generator, I evaluated and compared several tonight, and found this one to be best for my needs: https://www.qrstuff.com

100% Ad Free QR Codes

QR Stuff has QR codes that are guaranteed 100% ad-free, even for free users, so you can get on with promoting your product without someone else’s brand getting in the way.

I used this QR code generator successfully for my pest control Brezden Pest Control. They needed a QR code added on a few of their products so that technicians in the field could quickly pull up ingredient lists and instructions.

Here is QR Stuff FAQ:

Can I use the website as a free user?

Yes. You can create fully functional QR codes anonymously as a free user with no need to sign up or open an account. No sign-up = no email address harvesting = no spam from us 🙂

Also, unlike some others, our free QR codes aren’t crippleware that stop working 14 days later. Our free QR codes aren’t time-limited in any way, don’t expire, and are ad-free.

What’s the subscription fee for?

The subscription fee charged relates to providing time-based subscription access to the extended feature set of the website for the period of the subscription purchased.

Opening an account is required for paid subscribers in order to co-ordinate the functionality of your account and to allocate the QR codes you create to your account history (but still no spam!).

No component of the subscription fee relates to purchasing the QR codes themselves.

Will my QR codes “expire”?

No. The QR codes (and any underlying short URL’s) created by both free users and paid subscribers are permanent and will continue to function indefinitely, however temporary scan limits may apply as outlined below.

Can I use your QR codes commercially?

Yes. There are no restrictions on commercial use however temporary scan limits may apply as outlined below.

Are there any limits on use?

The short answer is Yes, but the reality is that the vast majority of users won’t be affected by them. These limits only apply to dynamic QR codes that use our (optional) URL shortener – QR codes that do not use our URL shortener (static QR codes) have no scan limits.

Free Users: While there are no limits on the number QR codes you can create as either a free or paid user, a limit of 50 scans per month is applied to each QR code created by free users. This monthly scan limit presently affects less than 0.001% of the QR codes in our system so it will not impact the overwhelming majority of users. If you anticipate that your QR code will be scanned more than 50 times per month, you should probably consider a paid subscription.

Current Full Paid Subscribers: There are no pre-set scan limits for QR codes associated with current (paid-up) full subscriber account.

Expired Full Paid Subscribers: A 50 scan/month limit is applied to QR codes associated with expired paid subscriber accounts. This scan limit for expired subscribers is a “per QR code” limit and is only applied to the individual QR codes that exceed the monthly 50 scan limit, and does not affect any other QR codes associated with the expired subscriber account. The scan limit is re-set at the start of each calendar month.

At our discretion a temporary Fair Use monthly scan limit may be applied to unusually high scan-volume QR codes (>30,000 scans/month) belonging to current paid subscribers. This Fair Use Policy limit is intended to ensure that the scan activity of a minority of users doesn’t adversely impact optimal platform performance for all users.

Don’t worry – current subscribers will be contacted well in advance if any of their QR codes are approaching a Fair Use threshhold so that we can work out a solution with them.

Collectively, these measures will only affect about 1 in every 10,000 users – the other 9,999 won’t even know that any limits exist 🙂

And just to reiterate – these limits only apply to dynamic QR codes (the QR codes that use our optional URL shortener). All other QR codes are unlimited.

What do I do if my QR codes are scan-limited?

Expired full subscribers simply need to renew their subscription and the scan limit status of their account will be automatically reset from expired to current.

Free users who upgrade to a full paid account (1 month or longer) can contact us to have the QR codes they created as free user moved to their subscriber account which will remove the 50 scans/month limit from them. This is a complimentary service for up to 10 QR codes.

Are your QR codes ad-free?

Yes. Both our free and paid QR codes are guaranteed 100% ad-free. If you see an ad after scanning one of our QR codes, the QR code scanning app that you’re using put it there.

Is a license required to create QR codes?

No. The QR code is clearly defined and published as an open ISO standard. Denso Wave owns the patent rights on the QR code creation process, and the methods used to encode and create them, but has chosen not to exercise those rights. The term “QR code” itself is a registered trademark of Denso Wave Incorporated.

The answer to the following questions is always “No”

  • Can I add a QR code to my account that I created somewhere else?
  • Can I get analytics from you for a QR code that I created somewhere else?
  • Can I have a free trial subscription?
  • I’m making my own QR code website. Can you tell me how you did everything on yours?
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54 Comments

  1. This post was very helpful in understanding what a “QR code” is and what it does. As someone who struggles with technology, I never truly had any level of comprehension as to how they worked or what they could be used for. Since the pandemic, I have loved the increase in contactless payments and transactions for various businesses, and now I know that a QR code is a way to make these proceedings even more efficient. After reading this article, I now know how to use a QR code, which is important as they are making a large comeback! Thank you for sharing all of this info.

    1. These QR codes are a great convenience. My fiancee and I scanned one onto my cell phone last week while we were at a restaurant. We were able to see the menu on my phone which meant we did not have to touch some menu held by a previous customer. Thanks for explaining the website https://www.qrstuff.com where QR codes can be generated. Great idea adding QR codes to pest control products; understanding what each of these products can do should help them to be used more safely. With all the ways to use these codes, I am sure our quality of life will benefit as well.

      1. Thank you for sharing your experience with QR codes, Frank! It’s great to hear that they were able to provide a safe and convenient alternative to traditional menus. And I’m glad that you found the information on generating QR codes and using them for pest control products helpful. It’s true that QR codes have a lot of potential to improve our daily lives in various ways.

    2. Thanks for stopping by John, yes QR codes are growing in popularity, it’ll be interesting to see what happens in the coming years with regards to how deeply integrated they become into our day to day lives.

  2. Hi Taylor,

    Thank you for the very informative article regarding QR codes.

    Many times over the past 5 years a QR code has been necessary for marketing projects. For example, my company was hosting a job fair and industry seminar day. We added QR codes to our name badges which linked to the candidate’s resume profile. This allowed recruiters to view the resume completely hands-free.

    I’m glad to QR codes are forecasted to make a big comeback!

    1. Job fairs and conferences, are probably one of the most applicable use cases for QR codes, thanks for your comment.

  3. I’ve been seeing QR codes used more and more frequently; it’s way simpler than taking a picture or saving a URL. I think that combined with platforms with programs that consolidate your content, social media, and personal sites under one link, QR codes can make sharing information about you and your company fast and easy. I’ve even seen QR codes and QR-style mechanisms utilized with apps more built for leisure. For example, Snapchat, a social media site, uses square images called Snapcodes to allow users to share their profile with their friends and family. Spotify uses a mechanism called Spotify Scanner, which includes a picture with different-sized bars, to share your favorite songs with just a picture.

    1. Tobi, you’re absolutely right that they’re becoming more popular, especially as a convenient way to quickly share information. It’s interesting to see how QR codes are being utilized not just for business purposes, but also for leisure and social media. The use of QR codes can also help streamline the process of sharing personal information or favorite songs, as you mentioned with Spotify Scanner. Overall, QR codes have a lot of potential for simplifying and streamlining information sharing in various contexts.

  4. Catherine says:

    Hello Taylor,

    This post was very informative for me as I have never used a QR Code. I was not even sure what they were before now. I have seen them in many places but never really gave them a second thought.

    I am not sure if I would trust them for purchases as they do not appear to be secure enough for my liking. However, they do seem appealing for the information aspects, like menus and coupons.

    This information has now sparked my interest and I will have to find something somewhere so I can give it a try. Time for me to move into a new realm of technology.

    Thank You

    1. Yes, there are some privacy issues around QR codes, and they are an opportunity for hackers to steal information, all important issues that will need to be addressed.

  5. Hey Taylor, I believe that the comeback of QR codes was necessary and I am glad that it is back. It proved to be useful, especially during the pandemic as it allowed for places to have a lot more contactless interactions with their customers.

    1. Hi there, Alicia! I completely agree with you that the comeback of QR codes was necessary, especially during the pandemic. It’s great that they provided a contactless and efficient way for places to interact with their customers. I think they’ll continue to be a useful tool even as things start to open up again.

  6. Hey Taylor!
    I completely agree with you, I was also wondering about the increasing popularity of QR codes. I recently visited India and it’s a developing country so I didn’t really expect lifestyle changes due to pandemic amongst the people there, but I was shocked that even they started using QR codes at small shops, restaurants, and even public transports. I guess the technology just came a little earlier than it should have. But now, people are finally ready for it and in fact in need of it.
    I will be waiting for more blogs, especially the ones on the increasing popularity of old technologies coming back to life!

  7. I just realized how using QR codes modernized entrepreneurship, especially today, where contactless payment is essential. As a small business owner myself, QR code helped me create a sense of identity and helped me be known in my area. Keep posting articles like this!

    1. Yes, here in Santa Barbara, where I live, it’s interesting to see how many businesses are using QR codes now. Many of the local restaurants here seem to be switching over to qr code menus…

  8. QR codes are currently being used on my website and they are very confusing at first. But as time goes by I finally figured out how to use them and they are very beneficial to my business. The pandemic has changed a lot but I think the QR codes will be here to stay. I love the article.

    1. Gail, it’s great to hear that QR codes have been beneficial to your business. They can definitely take some getting used to, but once you understand how they work, they can be a very helpful tool. And I agree, it seems like QR codes are here to stay even after the pandemic. Thanks for reading the article!

  9. Wow! I didn’t know that QR codes were this awesome; I’ve been sleeping on them for the past couple of years, little did I know that I was missing out on a gold mine. First off, I’m a later bloomer, as I only came to terms with the awesomeness of the internet in 2017, so forgive me if I sound naive. However, I think it’s incredible what brands are doing these days with QR codes and the typical barcodes, and I think I’ll hop on the bandwagon. There’s nothing to lose anyway, and I believe everything you said in this top-notch piece. Just so you know, I’ve been reading your blog since day one (okay, maybe not day one), and I’m looking forward to more stuff like this, so I’ll reach your level of mastery in the tech Industry.

    1. Don, thanks for reading my blogs. I appreciate your kind words. It’s a labor of love. 🙂

  10. Hey Taylor,
    Since the start of the pandemic, I have realized the benefits of QR codes. The first time I used one, I was really confused and thought this is awful. As I have used them more frequently, I have discovered the benefits. I no longer even think twice about snapping a picture. You mentioned one of the drawbacks of QR is the risk of fraud. This is the area in which I would have trouble trusting to use it for payments. The benefit of using it on Facebook is an interesting concept; I would like to see how that works as the popularity grows.

    1. Yes Mary, QR codes have become increasingly useful during the pandemic, especially in minimizing contact and promoting social distancing. Regarding using QR codes for payments, it’s understandable to be cautious, as with any new technology there is always a risk of fraud. It’s important to use trusted and secure payment systems and to be aware of any potential scams. As for using QR codes on Facebook, it can be a convenient way to share information or connect with others, but it’s also important to be cautious of any potential privacy or security issues. It’s always a good idea to review and adjust your Facebook privacy settings to ensure that you’re comfortable with how your information is being shared.

  11. Hi Taylor,

    I agree that the QR code has made a comeback recently. I am seeing it everywhere, and it seems to be a great thing! Now that smart phones come equipped with the ability to scan the code with the built in camera, it’s been so much easier to use it as a consumer. It seems as though it is the easier method for business to get those who are not technically savvy to the right place. This way there is no chance the potential customer would be typing in the wrong web address, or end up in the wrong place on the company website.

  12. I love this article! I am familiar with QR codes (especially because the restaurants in my area have adopted QR menus) and I can’t wait to see them implemented in our daily life.

    QR codes can be used in marketing as shortcuts that have a physical location that leads to a virtual destination. If marketers could use QR codes on billboards, commercials, and business cards we could see a different era of advertisement.

    Beside the marketing world, I would find it interesting to see QR codes used on a personal basis. Thank you for helping me out and finding a QR website that produces good quality QR codes!

    1. I’ve been thinking about putting a QR code on my business card. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Nathan, and for your comment, yes QR codes are definitely appearing in more places recently. Glad this article helped you.

  13. Hey Taylor,
    What an interesting and detail-oriented blog on QR codes. I really think that QR codes are a blessing as people can access various sites and information without logging in or downloading multitudes of apps. I agree with your point of view that ever since this pandemic, the use of QR codes has made life easier, you can view information safely without being risked to getting the disease.
    I hope this trend continues to stay as it is user friendly and hassle free.

  14. Taylor,

    Great information. Myself being a person that is in to coding, I was always fascinated by the QR code. It’s great to see how so much unique information can be held in such a small box. To me. QR code’s need to have more of a presence, a come back, like you say. I think it’s an easier way to access information rather than typing in a web address or some other sort of link. If you need to get to a Facebook page, boom, you are there. It would be nice to see more of this. I think it’s special enough that in the future a quick access button on a phone could be installed to capture a code quickly rather than having to do the work to open up your camera etc. One touch and your there. Great information.

    1. Hi Chad, thanks for chiming in here, you bring up a good point, social media is another use for QR codes, many businesses are putting QR codes on there business cards and their products, and putting direct links to their Facebook page for example, and this drives engagement on their social channels.

  15. During the early 2010s, I do not actually remember the time when QR codes existed the first time. Back then, we had to use writing materials and papers to fill out certain information. However, due to physical distancing measures in preventing COVID-19, it was only since last year when QR codes are widely used: from filling out contact tracing forms to browsing the restaurants’ menus. Menu books are passed from one diner to another. Hence, causing the spread of the Coronavirus. Same case for writing materials. Doing cashless transactions have also made possible thanks to GCash. Some market vendors send their QR codes for payment. While scanning QR codes worked out smoothly on my iPhone, it needed extra work whenever I use my Android phone. Maybe the newer versions of Android may improve the QR scanning power in the future, especially in the time of the pandemic.

    1. Thanks for your comment Pat, yes QR codes are making a comeback for sure, that’s interesting that you say it was easier on your iPhone, I was an iPhone user for 10 years, and I recently switched over to Android, and QR code scanning seems to work flawlessly on my Android.

  16. I would love to agree that QR codes are many a comeback, but I never thought they really took off when they were launched. I personally am not a fan of QR codes simply because every time I attempted to scan one in a store or for product details; it wasn’t a smooth result. Most of the time, I got frustrated trying to get to the details I needed and just gave up.

    I realize the pandemic has changed a lot of business tools, so I’ll be interested to see if the buzz around QR codes remains popular once people are back to everyday daily life.

    1. Tracey, yes so many people are having that same issue, it seems like the adoption of QR codes has been a slow ramp-up, probably because of the technology, it needs to be dead simple in order for people to start using them more and I think that the newer smart phones on the market are going to make it easier for people to use QR codes, time will tell!

  17. Moment of truth: I totally used to hate QR codes. During the pandemic they became super popular. Between QR code’s for information, menus, and more they became a regular part of life. The more they became a regular part of life I started to value them. With the scan of a simple code I had access to so much information at the speed of light. I definitely hope QR code’s remain an thing especially as far as restaurants and businesses. No need to waste business cards or brochures I’ll probably lose anyways. No need to touch one xtra items to spread germs. QR code’s are definitely an important part of the present and future. The risk of fraud seems high, but I believe that a program or safety features can be worked on to limit this.

    1. Olivia, I agree, I think that QR codes can definitely decrease the spread of germs.

  18. I remember the time when I heard of QR Codes. I was skeptical since this alters our traditional way of transactions and information gathering. Now, I can’t even enter my home village without scanning my QR code.
    It amazes me how QR codes takes a full-tilt at making a name as a marketing tool. This ultimately makes our life a lot easier and a lot convenient. Especially in these unprecedented times where we have to adjust to the new flexible scheme with limited social contact. Also, this article really filled the gap of knowledge to the people who still do not understand how QR codes work.

    1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Emily. It is interesting how skeptical we can be of new technology, and yet how quickly it can become a part of our daily lives. QR codes have certainly come a long way since their inception, and they have proven to be a valuable tool in various domains, including marketing and contact tracing during the pandemic. I’m glad to hear that the article was helpful in filling the gap of knowledge for those who are unfamiliar with QR codes. They are indeed a simple and convenient way of accessing information, and I believe they will continue to be an important tool in the future.

  19. I saw a surge in QR use this past year during the pandemic and thought they were very handy for minimizing contact, especially when used in restaurants in place of menus. I think the only downside to QR codes is that people who don’t understand how they work or who have older phones may not be able to benefit from them. It was interesting to see the other ways that QR codes are used such as for accessing gift certificates or coupons. I think people forget how useful QR codes can be because of how prevalent they are in marketing.

    1. I completely agree with you, Sarah. QR codes have been incredibly useful during the pandemic, especially in minimizing contact in restaurants and other settings. While they have become more prevalent, it is important to note that not everyone may be able to benefit from them, especially those with older phones or who may not understand how they work. Nonetheless, QR codes have proven to be a versatile tool that can be used in various ways beyond marketing, such as accessing gift certificates or coupons. It is important to recognize their usefulness and potential, and I believe they will continue to be an important part of our daily lives, even post-pandemic. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this!

  20. You are the first person I’ve ever heard say “an enhanced version of the barcode” and I love that! This couldn’t be more true! I really didn’t think QR codes were all that “special” when I first started seeing them everywhere, honestly, they kind of bugged me. But like you were saying in your blog, these barcodes are really simple and can save a company a LOT of time marketing in other ways when it can all be right there through that code! I don’t like that it has to be scanned by a smartphone though because not everyone has a phone but that’s really the only downfall in my opinion.

    1. Pretty soon we will probably have QR code scanning built into our eyeballs, wouldn’t that be awesome. 😉

  21. Hi Taylor:

    While I certainly have seen less QR codes during the COVID Pandemic being stuck inside, it seemed those codes were everywhere in the last few years. And I mean everywhere. I was shocked to learn of their having fallen out of use in recent years. Working in higher education, QR codes offer incredible resources for our students, which includes quick guides and maps to help new students find their way to class and where to go to attend a club meeting or get something to eat. From a professor’s and academic advisor’s standpoint, I am thrilled with the opportunities QR codes provide. Within textbooks, QR codes provide great links to online videos and photo galleries that help students visualize and better understand readings, key course concepts, and historical events and figures. As an academic advisor, QR codes within a pamphlet or on a ad posted on a building or dormitory wall could help link students to reminders of important due dates and outlines of degree requirements, the latter even linking to specific majors as opposed to just listing general education requirements. It will be interesting to see if the growth of QR code usage in course textbooks will help lower textbook costs, which have skyrocketed in the last ten years. For those of us who post blogs and other web-based resources, I would love to email QR codes that connect my students to links to the college’s website that contain lists of online and in-person tutoring resources to help students quickly get the support they need when struggling with a course. As new smartphones come “ready to scan,” I definitely see students, staff and faculty getting more dependent on the codes.

    1. Many educational institutions are using online classes. This allows students to study even if they are inside their homes. If you’re a teacher or instructor, you can better teach and distribute educational materials to your students using QR codes. QR codes are a faster way to distribute your online lessons and educational pages than posting links. Your students just have to scan the QR code to see and save the documents.

  22. Interesting post! I feel like QR codes were something I saw all the time when they were first introduced, but then they seemed to kind of fade out.
    But then the 2020 pandemic started, and I think they went through almost a rebirth. When our world became even more online and “contactless” everything was required to prevent the spread of the virus, QR codes all of a sudden became a much more important tool.
    And thank you for your link on QR code generator! There are so many of them out there these days, I’m glad that you went through the work of evaluating and making a recommendation. Appreciate it!

    1. Lindsay, yes, I spent 3 days researching QR generators, and that one at QRSTUFF.COM is the best one I found in terms of price and longevity. Others are similar, but that one seemed to have the most helpful website, and better pricing.

  23. Hey Taylor,
    While QR codes were helpful throughout the pandemic especially in restaurants, I did find myself getting frustrated that I couldn’t actually hold and look at a menu. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not an old fuddy-duddy who hates change, but having to scroll through a poorly designed online menu was a nuisance. I can see how QR codes would be helpful as a marketing strategy if you’re just trying to get, say, a flyer out there for the public to see, but there are some definite drawbacks to QR codes. For example, they don’t always work! If they do work, the data is often rather unorganized. I know during the pandemic a lot of people had to get used to QR codes rather quickly. Hopefully, if QR codes continue to stay popular we get better at using them.

    1. Hey Kayla! While QR codes have been helpful in minimizing contact in restaurants during the pandemic, it is understandable that some people may prefer the traditional method of holding and looking at a menu. Regarding the drawbacks of QR codes, I agree that they may not always work and the data can sometimes be unorganized. However, with continued use and improvements, I believe that we can get better at using them and address these issues. Thank you for your comment!

  24. Hello Taylor,

    You are right, QR codes are making a comeback. I noticed they were on the rise again when they started popping up at restaurants so customers can see their menus. It offered a safe and contactless way for customers to be informed about new products and also saved businesses money on printing out paper. More and more businesses have adopted the use of QR codes, because of simplicity, I see them posted everywhere. I think however customers should be informed about the privacy and fraud risk associated with QR codes. But this was a decent article, this information can definitely be helpful for consumers and businesses.

    1. Joshua, I completely agree with you on the convenience of QR codes, especially during the pandemic. They offer a safe and contactless way for customers to access information and can save businesses money on printing costs. You bring up a good point about informing customers about the potential privacy and fraud risks associated with QR codes. It’s important for businesses to be transparent about how they are using customer data and for customers to be cautious when scanning QR codes from unknown sources. Thanks for your comment!

  25. Hey Taylor,

    2019 to 2021 is indeed the peak of the QR code system because of the Coronavirus pandemic. It’s great to see that we have been improving in utilizing technology and adapting to a particular situation, such as during this time. For example, contactless payments are now possible, which is an excellent way to reduce spreading the virus. In my local grocery shops and malls, I also see that they have been adapting the QR code system for contract tracing, which is clever compared to the ordinary pen and paper.

    Although, one thing that you haven’t covered in this blog post is the use of AR technology which apparently utilizes QR codes as well. I would love to see your take about it on your future blog posts.

    Thank you so much!

    1. Stella, augmented reality (AR) is a growing trend among companies involved in mobile computing and business applications in particular. It’s like an enhanced version of the real physical world that is achieved through the use of digital visual elements, sound, or other sensory stimuli delivered via technology. It will be interesting to see what happens with QR codes and AR, assuming they will integrate. I will try to do a separate blog about that. Thanks for reading my blog!

  26. Hi Taylor,

    To be honest I didn’t know that QR codes existed a long time ago. I became familiar with this when the pandemic started last year. At first I was skeptical about using any QR codes because I’m quite scared of issues such as security breaches and hacking.

    I am not that technical so I really don’t know how QR codes work. So I took the liberty to read articles like this one and watch more YouTube videos to learn more about QR codes. I’ve realized that it plays a big role in businesses and in government agencies. It’s a good way to promote productivity, boost sales, process orders and conduct remote inventory. Also QR codes are highly reliable for contact tracing which is highly utilized for tracking Covid cases.

    1. April, I know what you mean! In 2018, I was telling people QR codes were not really worth spending time on, unless you were in the marketing or event industry, but now, because they have been so widely adopted with smart phones, they are trending up in popularity.

  27. I’m a huge fan of QR myself. Because of the Covid season, it’s widely used especially in contactless payments. Even restaurants have incorporated QR so you can view their menus. I personally think that it’s very convenient.

    1. Ash, thanks for sharing your thoughts! QR codes have definitely become more popular due to the pandemic and have proven to be a convenient and contactless option in various industries.

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