What are QR Codes?
QR Codes (Quick Response Code) are two dimensional barcodes, consisting of black modules arranged in a square matrix on white background. They were invented by the Toyota subsidiary Denso Wave in 1994 to track vehicles during the manufacturing process. These codes allowed both components to be scanned at high speed, and a variety of (numeric, alphanumeric, byte/binary, Kanji) data to be used, and with supported
extensions the gives you the ability to store virtually any kind of data.
In an earlier article I mentioned the term "Show Rooming", were Smart phone users go to a brick and mortar store to physically look at an item and then go on-line to purchase an item elsewhere. Recently, to combat this, brick and mortar retailers have changed tactics to include all of the following:
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Challenging suppliers to provide more exclusive merchandise and lower prices on items that will entice the customers into the store.
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Retail integration of more developed mobile sales plans to augment other existing marketing efforts. This might include mobile apps that link to the retailers on-line store.
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Using QR Codes in stores and print ads and on television to allow mobile devices to use them.
As an example…
Some retailers have started using QR codes to highlight "top 20" items by planting QR codes in newspapers, coupon flyer’s, and even on in-store sale price and promotional signs. In these situations, free shipping is normally included. The win/win situation here is that the sale is not lost by the retailer, and the customer gets what they want a discounted price, and with free shipping. An added benefit here at the physical store is that if the item is sold-out at the store, the customer can still order it at the sale price – and this means that the store no longer has to mess around with rain checks, or deal with irate customers because there was no stock available at the store.
If you would like information regarding a solution that integrates on-line activity, with a Point Of Sale application, please contact the CCS Retail Systems Sales Department.
– John