QR codes history
It’s fine if you don’t know what QR codes are (yet!).
Before we lept head first into the world of QR codes here at Unitag, we wouldn’t have been able to explain what a QR code is neither convincingly. So you’re in good company!
Let’s dive in together and get a clearer picture of exactly what a QR code is and how it can open up a new world of possibilities for you and your business.
First, what exactly does the QR stand for?
It stands for “Quick Response”!
And that’s precisely what it does. It gives you a quick response. But how exactly? And what does that even mean? How will it help you? Let’s dig into the backstory of QR codes.
QR codes had risen in use since 1994, when Denso Wave, a Japanese company, first created them. Denso Wave started them because there was a need for a different type of barcode. One that could open up new possibilities by containing more information than traditional barcodes had up until then.
Traditional bar codes simply can’t contain as much information and aren’t as efficient as QR codes.
Also, unlike traditional barcodes, QR codes can be scanned easily from multiple angles.
Also, unlike traditional barcodes, QR codes can be scanned easily from multiple angles. You remember when you got held up in a queue at the supermarket because the barcode wouldn’t scan until the cashier got the angle, correct? It’s annoying.
That doesn’t happen with QR codes! And that matters because you want your customers to be able to access whatever information you are sharing through a QR code quickly. Otherwise, they’ll get frustrated, and you’ll lose them.
So, QR codes first got used in manufacturing when Denso Wave developed them as you could pack more information onto a QR code, but also, because they’re way easier to scan than, say, a regular bar code, you can end up scanning hundreds of codes and do it quickly. It’s way more efficient.
Over time, QR codes have gone way beyond their origins in manufacturing; we see them in museums, product packaging, and restaurant menus.
Here at Unitag, we believe that this is just the beginning. QR codes will find their way into many more aspects of our everyday lives. It’s why we started Unitag. We want to play a role in what is to come. We want to serve you and your business needs and listen to how we can find new ways to use QR codes to solve problems in your industry.
Want to learn more about how easy it is to set up and use Unitag’s QR code solutions for your business?