QR codes: Why Do They Become So Famous

These years, QR codes are widespread used and there must be a certain reason.

If you are not familiar with QR codes, you must have seen some barcodes in the back of the merchandises' packages on the shelves of the store. These barcodes are used to track inventory information and commodity price information. QR code is similar to the barcode. But the most significant difference between them is the amount of data they can carry. "A single QR Code symbol can contain up to 7,089 numerals—over 200 times the amount of data as a traditional 1-D barcode." (QR Code® Essentials)

A barcode is lots of one-dimensional lines in the same direction. And it can only carry 20 characters. On the other hand, QR code is "a two-dimensional (2-D) matrix code that belongs to a larger set of machine-readable codes, all of which are often referred to as barcodes, regardless of whether they are made up of bars, squares or other-shaped elements." (QR Code® Essentials)

There are great advantages of using QR codes in different areas.

(1) Order Processing and Product Tracking

In the automotive parts manufacturing industry, invoices and receipts are encoded with QR codes. QR Code contains customer information, shipping company, cargo code, quantity and other relevant information. These data can be used for order processing and product tracking. The advantage is that we can collect a large number of transport data by scan once and it greatly reduces the variety of waybill data entry and manually comparison.

(2) Food Logistics Management System

In a Coca-Cola canning factory, product code, expiry date, production history, and other data are incorporated into a QR code. These data are used for logistics management. According to the control of expiry date, it can guarantee the implementation of the first in first out. What's more, it can improve traceability base on the production history.

(3) Personal Business

Compilation of information processing based on mobile phone, it provides personalized, secure transmission method for various types of consumer groups' demands. Scanning a QR code can simplify the cumbersome input of the Internet web site before mobile phone users access the internet. The images, text, audio, video, and other information are generated to url. Therefore, it achieves fast landing and download.

As a result, with such excellent benefits,  we should use QR codes as personal or commercial.

Reference:
"QR Code® Essentials." 2011. DENSO ADC. 13 Sept. 2013 <http://www.nacs.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=D1FpVAvvJuo%3D&tabid=1426&mid=4802>.