Another research<\/a> (the report is based on an Internet survey of 1,702 consumers conducted from Sept. 8 to Sept. 12, 2011) found that shopping apps, which the consultancy defines as everything from a retailer\u2019s mobile e-commerce app and a price comparison app, are the fourth most downloaded category of mobile app, behind games (67% of smartphone owners have downloaded a game), social media (66%), music (57%). At 46%, shopping apps are tied with news apps.<\/p>\nThe 35% of consumers who have downloaded a shopping app say they did so to receive in-store deals and sales, while 33% say apps enable them to read QR codes or scan bar codes for product information, and 28% use apps to navigate stores.<\/p>\n
However the level of adoption in scanning is quite low, since amongst smartphone phone user the level of penetration of scanning is about 15%, due to lack of familiarity of what QR codes do.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.webseoanalytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/QR-Code-in-Product-Labels-a1.jpg\" "\\"QR-Code-in-Product-Labels-a1\\"")
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Case studies<\/h2>\n
In order to comprehend more effectively the use of QR codes and their diversity, it would be advisable to examine some case studies.<\/p>\n
1. TESCO<\/h3>\n
Therefore, the mission of TESCO South Korea was to become number one without increasing the number of stores. Thus, taking into consideration the fact the South-Koreans are the second most hard-working people in the world, TESCO implemented the following idea \u201cLet the store come to people\u201d. So a virtual store is set on the subway and consumers using their smart-phones are able to purchase the products they need. The process is the following:<\/p>\n
\n- Scan the QR code with their phones<\/li>\n
- \u00a0The product automatically lands on their online card<\/li>\n
- \u00a0When the online purchase is done, it will be delivered to the consumer\u2019s door.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
<\/p>\n
Results:<\/p>\n
\n- No need to visit the physical store<\/li>\n
- Conversion of waiting time into shopping time<\/li>\n
- The number of new registered members rose by 76%<\/li>\n
- On-line sales increased by 130%<\/li>\n
- Currently Tesco in South-Korea (under the name Home Plus) has become No. 1 inonline market and very close 2nd<\/sup> offline<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
2. Personalized Gift Messages and Wrapping Paper<\/h3>\n
The company JC Penney released \u201cSanta Tags\u201d which would let the gift giver record a personalize message that would be played when the recipient scanned the QR code:<\/p>\n
\n- Download any free QR reader app top your smartphone<\/li>\n
- The recipient can scan the (voice) message which is in the QR code<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.webseoanalytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Marketing-with-QR-Codes-580x389.jpg\" "\\"Marketing-with-QR-Codes\\"")
QR (Quick Response) codes can be a fantastic opportunity for marketing agencies\/brands.\u00a0 But what a QR code is and what can it offer in terms of marketing? A QR Code is a matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code), readable by QR scanners, mobile phones with a camera, and smartphones. What can it offer in terms of marketing for a business (either it is a super-market, a restaurant, a hotel or even a museum), will be discussed in the following article using specific case studies in order to comprehend its usefulness.<\/p>\n