While you’ll need a phone to decipher the actual QR code, understanding what they are is much simpler. In short, Quick Response Codes (or simply QR codes) are square-printed boxes that store and transmit data. From ticketing to tracking, there are many instances when it makes more sense to use a QR code.
It’s especially during the global pandemic that business owners and users have turned more to this humble tool. In fact, Forbes goes as far as to say that if it weren’t for COVID-19, QR codes would probably have been a thing of the past. For example, according to Ahrefs the term QR code was searched 60,000 times in Australia in 2021 alone, while the Brisbane Times has reported that the Queensland government’s official COVID-19 check-in app has been used to check in over 1 million times already.
Though, it’s not just as a contactless solution that QR codes are used nowadays. Product labeling is another popular use. It’s becoming more common for consumers to turn to the internet for more product information while they’re in the actual store to find more information or compare prices. After all, it’s much easier to take out your phone and scan a code than it is to track down a sales rep.
Considering their versatility and consumer behavior, it makes sense to explore this option in the years to come (even after COVID-19 no longer dominates headlines). To help you get started, here are more than 10 free QR code generators that you can check out.