By Rebecca Brinsdon, Marketing Manager. - 8 Dec 2011
You may have noticed these little bar codes popping up everywhere from billboards and bus stops, to product packaging. Some industries are even using them for their loyalty campaigns or to help speed up the check in process at the airport. What are they and how are we using them?
If you are unfamiliar with what these are and do - read
on! They are called QR Codes. QR stands for "quick
response" and they were first invented in Japan for tracking auto
parts in factories. They are a 2D barcode that can be scanned by an
application on your smart phone. The app uses the phone's camera to
read the code and then directs you to the featured item via your
phone's web-browser and a code embedded in the QR image.
These little codes make life that little bit easier by
directing us to a specific webpage on something that we are showing
interest in. But, you do need a smartphone.
To get a QR reader for your smartphone, simply search your
phone's app store for "barcode reader" or "QR code scanner".
Most are free; a couple of examples are Qrafter and
QRReader.
How are we using them?
ACM Ahlers is using the code on our document folders which contain
your invoices and policy wordings. When you need to report a
claim, simply open the app on your phone, position your phone's
camera to scan the QR code and it will take you directly to our
'report a loss' page on our website. You can complete the 'report a
loss' form directly on your phone, and one of our claims staff will
quickly be in touch to help you along.
We certainly don't want to discourage you from picking up the
phone and having a chat with us. The QR code is merely
another avenue in which you can get in touch with us.
People are developing great ideas of how to use QR codes to
direct consumers to their site. Such as, putting them on business
cards or t-shirts and having their staff wear them at a big
event.
If you've got any ideas on how you use them, or how we could use
QR codes to make your life easier we'd love to hear them.