QR Codes vs. Smart QR Codes

Have you seen QR codes on so many products nowadays and wondered why companies are using QR codes?

A run to the nearest supermarket will make you realize our rising dependency on digitization and the role Quick Response codes (QR codes) are playing in the same. From making digital payments to exchanging social media contacts, QR codes have become the go to method to get tasks done by Gen Z and Millennials.

The packaging industry driven by demand from consumer products companies is rapidly adapting to use QR code on packaging. Smart packaging solutions are adopting QR codes on packaging to solve for traceability and on product authentication. In spite of the several benefits possible from Smart Packaging solutions, the most recognized form of it remains marketing QR codes found on various products and newspaper advertisements. 

Let’s Simplify What QR Codes Are 

As we want to communicate, we use language to encode our thoughts into statement and use a script to symbolize the language on paper. Similarly, in the digital age, the QR code can be thought of as a script, which contains in it the thoughts that an encoder wishes to achieve. A QR scanner, which is inbuilt into all mobile phones and requires no separate application simply reads the same and follows the path it was designed for.

A standard QR code establishes a link with the product or service in question and the information available online. With its help, consumers can instantly access specific information after the scan without needing to search for anything. Growing in popularity for its user-friendly functionality, QR codes eliminate the need to search, visit a web address or call a phone number. Additionally, QR codes are cost effective and can be placed on any surface (advertisements, marketing collateral, business or promotional cards, flyers, smart packaging solutions, etc.).

Almost 50% of those surveyed in the U.S. and U.K. said they had seen an increase in QR codes usage since the pandemic, so this is the bandwagon that business owners should consider jumping on. One of the latest advances to consider is Smart QR codes. 

What are Smart QR Codes?

Visually Smart QR codes look similar to the 2D codes we are used to seeing printed on packaging, however a Smart QR code has the ability to deliver significant value to brands. The 3 major sources of business value and impact from using Smart QR codes are:

Smart Packaging Solutions

By adding a Smart QR code on packaging, a brand can enable traceability like never before. They can link raw material sources to finished goods production, to digitally dispatching and receiving a product. Smart Packaging Solutions like these also enable a more sustainable and efficient supply chain since a brand can reduce cost, improve inventory visibility and reduce a product’s carbon footprint.

Marketing QR Codes

Smart QR codes can also be used by brands to drive personalized consumer engagement and rewards. Most brands lack the means to communicate 1-1 with their consumer. The consumer data or interaction is usually controlled or managed by retail including e-commerce. However, a Marketing QR code gives a brand the power of a Direct to Consumer (D2C) engagement platform. Using QR code on packaging, brands can deliver content and engage with consumers based on geo-location, time of day and even consumer persona. 

On Product Authentication

A Smart QR code can also be used for On Product authentication. The same QR code that is used for traceability and trace and trace can be used to verify if the product is genuine or not based on consumer scan data. This makes it difficult for counterfeiters to copy a brands products and allows brands to build consumer goodwill and loyalty. 

Data generated from consumer scans also generate significant business intelligence to brands on who, when, where and how often is picking up their product. This allows brands to make better marketing and supply chain decisions resulting in improved margins. Leading consumer goods companies in India and around the world are implementing Smart Packaging Solutions for Marketing and On Product Authentication. Contact Sepio Solutions on [email protected] to learn more about how to start your digital journey today.