If you’ve ever scanned a QR code, you may have wondered how it leads you to a specific website or product page. QR code tracking is the answer! Here’s what you need to know:
Although QR code tracking may seem like a privacy concern, the information collected is primarily used to improve marketing efforts.
In short, QR code tracking is a powerful tool that helps businesses make informed decisions about their advertising strategies. Knowing how it works can help you make better choices when scanning QR codes.
Understanding QR Code Technology
QR code technology is widely used across the globe in marketing and sales tactics to entice consumers towards various products, promotions, and services. Quick Response or QR codes are categorically a type of two-dimensional barcode that is used to store information, such as text, URL, or other data types.
QR codes have become a popular way for manufacturers and retailers to share information and promotional material with customers. Due to the growing popularity of these types of marketing methods, marketers found a way to collect data that helps them evaluate their marketing strategies. This is where QR code tracking comes in.
The Purpose of QR Code Tracking
The purpose of QR code tracking is to collect statistical data on the usage of QR codes. QR codes can be designed to link you to the website, promotional offer, or any social media platforms. Therefore, it is important for the creators of QR codes to be able to track their use to better understand how well they are working.
The QR code tracking system is a surveillance system making use of real-time statistics to collect data about QR codes that are scanned. Every QR code using this technology system comes with an individual URL. QR codes that are scanned are made using mobile devices to store and record URLs.
QR Code URL Linking
QR codes are linked to specific web pages, promotions, sales pitches, or social media pages to provide consumers with various information. QR codes can be used to promote blogs and websites, corporate branding information, promotional campaigns, and loyalty programs. These URLs are stored temporarily within the device a QR code is scanned from, and can be accessed later for further information on the subject.
However, every time someone scans a QR code, the information is transmitted to the tracking system, providing data with regards to the number of views and the interest generated in the codes. With proper tracking, companies can make sure that their messages are being delivered and what people are interested in.
How QR Code Tracking Works in Real-Time
QR code tracking works by collecting anonymized data about the use of a particular code. Companies use a web-based interface to monitor and track the use of their QR codes. The analytics available to them includes the following types of data:
- The number of unique scans per period of time
- The average time spent viewing the website or social media page linked to the QR code
- The location of the mobile device used to scan the code
- The type of device used to access the QR code
The Collection of Data from Scanned QR Codes
The QR code tracking system comprises both the mobile device technology and the cloud-based analytics engine that work together. Whenever a consumer scans a QR code from a mobile device, the code that was scanned, the device used to scan the QR code, time and date of scanning, and the consumer’s location are all captured and transmitted to the cloud.
The cloud then translates the captured data into analytics that can be used to measure the effectiveness of marketing efforts. These analytics provide developers with valuable information about how their company’s customer base interacts with their marketing strategies.
Privacy Implications of QR Code Tracking
QR code tracking systems raise privacy concerns regarding the user’s personal information, such as location data, email addresses, or phone numbers. The collection of this data could potentially allow companies to monitor customer behavior, track personal preferences or demographics, and analyze shopping patterns.
The data collected from QR code tracking could potentially be misused, so it’s essential that the tracking system follows proper legal requirements, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), to prevent any legal issues.
Advancements in QR Code Tracking Technology
The real-time tracking system of QR codes is continuously, and with the advancement in technology, QR code tracking has evolved tremendously. Consumers may soon expect features like personalized communications or augmented reality using QR codes. It’s also expected that businesses will utilize QR codes in even more innovative ways, including the use of AI and big data.
The QR code tracking system is expected to continue to develop and improve in the future, with new ways of tracking and analyzing customer behavior being introduced. As technology develops, we can expect that there will be even more innovative and creative uses of QR codes that can benefit both consumers and businesses alike.
