by Grace Barone
In a world where time is of the essence and technology reigns supreme, there's one versatile little box of squares that's transforming the way we interact with businesses, products, and payments – the mighty QR code. From scanning our way through bustling city streets to breezing through contactless payments, QR codes have become the ubiquitous link between our digital lives and the real world. Join us as we delve into the mesmerizing world of QR codes. What are these futuristic almost hypnotic squares? How do they work, and how are QR code payments revolutionizing the way we pay?
What are QR Codes?
These magical codes are sort of hard to comprehend. It may just be because of their chaotic arrangements of squares and lines that make them hard to understand. They are similar to barcodes in many ways. In a grocery store setting, each item has a barcode. The barcode is specific to that item and allows for easy tracking for inventory and sales purposes. A QR (quick response) code is basically a type of barcode for websites and other digital pages, instead of bananas and cereal. The first QR code system was invented in 1994 by the Japanese company Denso Wave, a Toyota subsidiary. They needed a more accurate way to track vehicles and parts during the manufacturing process. To achieve this, they developed a type of barcode that could encode kanji, kana, and alphanumeric characters.
In 2020, Denso Wave continued to improve on its original design. The company saw what was happening during the pandemic, and used the opportunity to make its codes a saving grace within a world that was searching for every possible way to convert to complete contactless interactions. Their new QR codes include traceability, brand protection, and anti-forgery measures. We see how the fad of QR codes didn't fizzle out with the pandemic. People recognized their convenience and have continued to implement them whenever possible. There are many new uses for the QR code, from transferring payments to determining objects' positions within augmented reality.
Difference between QR Codes and Barcodes
So these two seem incredibly similar. Why do they need to look so complex and what's the hype around them? Well, their chaotic look actually has a lot to do with it. Stores can only read typical barcodes one way, from top to bottom, and they can only encode alphanumeric characters. Because of this, barcodes can only hold a small amount of data. QR codes can be read from top to bottom and right to left. Meaning they can house a much larger amount of data. Allowing them to link to things like;
- Website URLs; including youtube pages, company sites, restaurant menus (essentially any website!)
- Phone numbers
- Up to 4,000 characters of text
- Apple Store or Google Play Store to download apps
- Wi-Fi access (ability to store SSID, password, and encryption type.)
- Sent and received payment information
How Business Owners are Using QR Codes
Small businesses have seen the adaptability of QR codes and have been integrating them into their businesses in many different ways. They really are an amazing development that makes navigating a digital world simple. By simply pointing the camera of a smartphone at a QR code, it will instantly redirect the user to a website or important digital information. With everything quickly moving to online only, this feature is incredibly helpful for inputting long and difficult URLs into browsers. Business owners have found the unique power of QR codes to battle short staffing, maximize payment efficiency, and help marketing efforts.
QR Code Ordering and Payments
Many restaurants are facing short-staffing issues. This is why many business owners are looking for ways to remain successful despite not having enough staff. Implementing self-service kiosks, altering hours, and adding QR code ordering have all been helpful decisions to stay afloat during the staffing issue.
But this blog is about QR codes, so that's what we'll focus on. The way restaurants have implemented QR codes and payments is by having a code on the table for guests to scan and access the menu or a code on the physical menu that's already on the table. The guest scans the code, and in the same way, as they would order online, they choose their food, complete their order and it gets sent to the kitchen.
Depending on what kind of restaurant it is, guests can either pay when they order or at the end of the meal with the QR code. This method of paying has already proven to be the preferred choice of payment by consumers. It is predicted that by 2025, as much as 30% of smartphone users will use QR codes to pay.
Creating Quick and Easy Ordering
This is an incredible tool for any restaurant. Allowing guests to order and pay when they're ready. This will decrease or even eliminate the need for a server to stop by. This can be very helpful to a restaurant that doesn't have enough staff. As well as a restaurant that's smaller and doesn't necessarily have the need for a ton of employees.
I recently went to a QR code ordering-only sit-down restaurant. At first, it was a little weird, just because everyone is used to sitting down at a table and being greeted by a waiter. But it was actually really nice, we were able to sit down, get situated, browse the menu, and order without being rushed. A server did bring out our drinks and our food, and they gave us a receipt with another QR code that had our bill. So we paid when we were done and were able to leave right away. It was the most peaceful and convenient experience ever.
People have started to prefer self-service much more in recent years. It has increased customer satisfaction and everyday operation efficiency. As well as saving business owners money and stress with staffing costs and issues. Not to mention, when a business owner implements QR code ordering, their average order value can increase by as much as 30%.
Integrating QR Codes at Your Business
If you're interested in implementing QR codes at your business, visit getvms.com or fill out the form below. By working with VMS, you'll get access to state-of-the-art POS machines. Our machines will not only allow you to accept every form of payment but also make the process of integrating QR codes simple! Our Clover devices have options to download software for QR code ordering and options to print QR codes at the bottom of your receipts for easy QR code payments. Contact us to get set up with the best devices and software customized to your small business needs.