20 years after the Cue Cat, QR codes are ready for their moment.

 

I laughed off QR codes for many years. What was the benefit of downloading an app and scanning a code when you could just as easily type in a short URL? I didn’t get the benefits until now.

 

Since COVID-19 pushed us into contactless customer experiences, QR stands a good chance of becoming a bigger part of our daily lives. All new phones have taken this into account and now include a QR code reader within the photo app, making it easier to scan a QR code than look up a website.

 

For instance: I took my car in for what was promised to be a contactless service experience. I arrived at the dealership to find a sign that read “Scan this QR code to let us know you’re here.” That accomplished, I received a phone call a few minutes later giving me detailed instructions on what to do next. Promise delivered. No contact, just a QR.

  

Aside from the obvious applications to digital content suppliers like eMagazines, the QR code has so many possibilities in a world increasingly turning to contactless interaction. Don’t want to touch a restaurant menu touched by a dozen other hands? Scan a QR code and touch only your phone.

 

Suddenly the Cue Cat doesn’t seem so outdated. Thanks to technology advancements and new guidelines from the CDC for contactless experiences, QR codes are relevant again.

Andrew Degenholtz