10 Industries That Can Grow Faster Using QR Codes
For a long time, QR codes were treated as a novelty item, something you placed on a poster and hoped that someone would look at. The perception of QR codes has drastically changed. Nowadays, a QR code for business is an essential marketing and operational lever driving tangible outcomes across industries such as hospitality and healthcare.
The change occurred for several reasons: the proliferation of smartphones enabled seamless scanning, the pandemic accelerated the adoption of contactless technology, and platforms such as QRKY have made it possible to integrate functional QR codes directly into creatives without rewriting any aspect of the design.
Here are ten fields that don't have this technology as a gimmick, but are evolving into an infrastructure.
1. Retail and E-Commerce
Retail is probably the most popular use case for a QR code for business. Companies use QR codes on product labels, shelf displays, and window displays to bridge the gap between digital and physical.
A clothing company includes a QR code on garment tags that links to styling guides and instructions.
An FMCG company uses codes on packaging that direct customers to loyalty programs, recipes, recipe pages, or even product authentication portals.
Displays in stores use coupons to encourage app downloads and collect leads. They also enable instant discount redemptions.
The benefit here isn't in the new; it's the conversion occurring to the exact moment of intent to purchase.
2. Food and Beverage
Cafés, restaurants, and packaged food brands boast some of the highest QR code usage rates in the world, and for good reason. The applications are quick and practical.
Digital menu access has eliminated the need for physical menus after the pandemic, and the format has remained because it's less expensive and easier to maintain.
Beverage brands have embedded codes on bottles and cans that link to origin stories, cocktail recipes, and brand-related content.
Fast-food chains use QR codes on tables for mobile ordering, reducing pressure on counter staff during peak times.
The QR Code Generator that supports dynamic codes is extremely beneficial in this case, as Restaurant owners can change prices and menu items without altering physical QR codes.
3. Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals
In a field where accuracy is not in dispute, QR codes offer an uncluttered, verified information layer.
The wristbands of patients with QR codes allow medical professionals instant access to medical records, allergies, patient information, and treatment guidelines.
Pharmaceutical packaging employs codes for batch traceability and dosage directions in a variety of languages, as well as the ability to identify counterfeiters.
Hospitals and clinics use QR codes in waiting areas to allow appointment scheduling, collect feedback, and process payments.
The QR code for healthcare applications is not so much about marketing as about operational accuracy and patient safety.
4. Real Estate
It was a perfect match for QR codes from the moment mobile search was the norm.
Property signs with QR codes let people browse complete listings, virtual tours, and floor plans without contacting an agent.
Open house materials include videos along with mortgage calculators.
Developers use coded hoardings at construction sites to generate inquiries and sign-ups for email lists during the pre-launch phase.
Using a trusted QR code generator, agencies can generate a code for each listing and update the listing's destination when it changes. This is especially beneficial with the ability to create dynamic QR codes.
5. Events and Entertainment
The events industry has embraced QR codes at nearly every point of contact.
The use of digital tickets via QR codes has mostly replaced paper tickets for sporting events, concerts, and conferences.
The event programs include codes that link to bios and schedules for speakers' sessions, as well as pages for sponsors.
Experiential campaigns use QR codes to generate leads, trigger AR experiences, or unlock unique digital content.
For activations, specifically, the possibility of embedding the QR code within the creative, rather than in an individual box glued on top, results in an incredibly higher level of engagement.
6. Education
Universities, schools, and corporate training programs are increasingly using QR code technology to make their learning materials more engaging and easily accessible.
Textbooks and workbooks have QR codes that link to additional videos, quizzes, and discussion forums.
Campus signage uses codes for directions, event registration, and library access.
Corporate L&D teams include QR codes in printed training materials to link employees to the latest policies, compliance training, and assessment tools.
Its QR code for business applications in education also extends to alumni involvement, fundraising campaigns, and campus recruitment; any printed item requires live digital extensions.
7. Hospitality and Travel
Airlines, hotels, and tourism authorities have discovered QR codes among the most effective tools to enhance the customer experience, without incurring significant operational expense.
Hotels use QR codes to access room service menus, housekeeping requests, and local attractions guides.
Airlines include codes in the departure lounge and in-flight magazines to encourage duty-free purchases, upgrades, and loyalty enrollment.
Tourism boards use codes on destination signs to provide audio guides in multiple languages and interactive maps.
A reliable QR code generator software lets you manage multiple code variations across a portfolio of properties from a single interface.
8. Financial Services
Insurance companies, banks, and fintech platforms use QR codes to simplify onboarding and reduce friction in high-value interactions.
Mobile payment QR codes are now common at merchant counters in markets such as India, enabling fast, cashless transactions.
Insurance companies utilize QR codes on print ads to generate direct quote requests and eliminate the need for a phone center interaction.
Banks include codes in their statements and letters that connect customers to self-service portals, reducing the volume of inbound support.
9. Logistics and Supply Chain
QR codes have replaced barcodes in a variety of logistical and warehouse settings because they hold significantly more data and can be scanned faster from a variety of angles.
Shipping labels with QR codes enable real-time package tracking for both operators and end users.
Manufacturers employ codes to ensure traceability of components throughout the manufacturing process.
Logistics companies that use the cold chain apply QR codes to packaging to record the temperature exposure history. This is a crucial quality control function.
10. Advertising and Media
This is where QR codes are developing quickly, and where the difference between the traditional QR code and embedded interactive options such as QRKY becomes most obvious.
Print advertisements, OOH hoardings, and DOOH screens are using QR codes that make brands' messages immediate and actionable, closing the gap between recognition and conversion.
Packaging campaigns use QR codes to turn a standard point of contact into a direct-response channel.
The owners of media are offering interactive QR inventory along with traditional display spaces, giving advertisers a performance-based metric - cost per scan, which traditional OOH would never be able to offer.
Brands that have transitioned from standard QR codes to contextually integrated codes show scan-to-result ratios of 18-20 percent, which are higher than the 5-7 percent typically seen with traditionally placed codes.
Where is this Heading?
The above industries share one thing in common: they all feature high-volume touchpoints for audiences that are already using a camera device. A QR code for business converts these touchpoints into tangible interactions. This technology has gone beyond just being for fun and is now incorporated into standard operating procedures across different sectors.
What is important to note is not whether a company employs QR codes. It's the way that QR codes are created, placed, and monitored. The choice of platform matters.
Are you ready to make your media more efficient?
QRKY is designed for businesses that need QR codes to be more than just a link -- they want them to be converted. If you're in retail, hospitality, or advertising, QRKY can embed real-time, trackable QR codes into your existing content without requiring any changes. Begin by signing up for a free trial at qrky.ai and using your physical media.