Actually, it’s looking brighter, despite relatively slow adoption. Most of us are used to seeing QR Codes on signage at events and on products, but we don’t always have a compelling reason to scan it. And as I noted in one of my previous posts, it isn’t always possible to scan QR codes, depending on the size, location, and/or availability of a signal.
So I was intrigued by this recap published by Mashable: 10 Creative Ways to Use QR Codes for Marketing.
Here are a few of my favorites:
- Having lived in Manhattan, it’s easy to imagine a variation of Tesco’s concept introduced in Korea being adopted to create convenient shopping for MTA subway riders. As you’ll see in the scroll, it’s a brilliant order-now-while-waiting-for-your-train, have-it-delivered-later-so you-don’t-have-to-carry-it-on-the-subway shopping solution that efficiently puts to good use our “down time” that’s otherwise spent waiting on a platform.
Korean transit riders can scan QR codeswhile waiting for trains: Order now and have your items conveniently delivered when you get home
- Speaking of convenience, who can argue with Starbuck’s application that uses QR Codes to move the coffee line faster in the morning (or at any other time). They facilitate payment by having you scan the code on a pre-loaded card with your smartphone app. You can also get more info about other Starbucks products via the app while you’re waiting behind the other people in line who aren’t as technologically savvy.
- And speaking of savvy, smart wineries are adding QR codes to their labels so you can quickly and easily grab the info about a wine you’ve just tasted and want to remember for the future.
- Last but not least, I like the idea of using QR codes to add the personal touch. warm and friendly is not something that those seriously grid-like codes readily convey, and yet JC Penney’s application of linking a gift card to a message in the gift giver’s voice is a very nice touch. Along similar lines the customized playlist accessed via a QR code is also a great idea.
Seeing QR codes used in more creative applications will eventually attract a wider audience, and lead to even more clever ways to incorporate them into our lives. I just wish they were more attractive.
