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Digital Transformation

Importance of QR codes

QR codes – I have always liked them but thought of them as an oddity of the sheltered IT life that I live and then on Saturday morning on the way to meet a friend for coffee I drove by this:

A huge QR code on every side of a building and it hit me, this is more that I think it is.  So that one Saturday I decide to gauge the value of QR in my life and to count how many times I encounter them in one day.  As a guy on the road 5 days a week, I spend my Saturday’s running errands and catching up on life – a good day to test.  First, this apartment building was a stark reminder, next my coffee shop had a QR on their cups (hand stamped no-less!), the co-op had them on their pricing and labels to look up various details about sourcing, Best Buy when I was looking for a dishwasher and so on.  All told, 19 from the morning apartment to the liquor store who had it on my Surly beer promo.

My son asked me what I was taking pictures of and I told him – the future.  About two years ago a good pal on mine, Ryan Opaz – a wine blogger – was telling me about how QR’s have taken over the EU and I walked into our UX director’s office the next day and said, “you will never believe what I heard about…”  Now, it wasn’t the first I heard of it but QR’s have taken on something special in my eyes.  I was able to competitively shop for a dishwasher and follow my coffee shop on twitter for deals.  As mobile trends to outsell  computers and our culture expects more at their finger tips there is one thing that is clear as day – QR codes is where it is going to happen.  They are simple to make, phones come with readers and people are expecting to see them now.

I am curious what your thoughts are on QR codes – good, bad, indifferent?

Thoughts on “Importance of QR codes”

  1. I find QR Codes to be very useful as a way of transferring information.

    I use them in presentations. When I provide contact information or URLs people hate writing them down just add a QR Code.
    I use them on business cards. Sometime people just hand card back after scanning. Saves on cards.

    I am working on a Notes Address book template the generates qr codes for each contact.

    I put my contact qr code in my email signature.

    People new to QR CODES try this generator. You can generate Calendar event, Contact Information, Email address, Geo location, Phone number, SMS, Text, URL and Wifi network QR Codes.
    http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/

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Jonathan Distad

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