QR Codes

Ever wonder what this is? QR Codes or, "Quick Response" codes are barcodes that can be read by mobile smart phones. QR Codes are the perfect marriage of print and mobile smart phone technology. Users simply point their phone at your QR code and can instantly link to the encoded data. QR codes allow an interactive component to be easily added to your printed materials. A QR Code can include phone numbers, text messages, V-Card data, HTML links or even plain text. Once scanned, your phone or QR enabled device will translate the information and open the appropriate program to use the encoded data. The unique properties of QR Codes allow users to scan codes when they're upside down or even wrapped around a curved surface.

There are many different QR code scanning services available for the different smart phones on the market, many of them are free. QR codes are extremely popular in Japan (where they were invented), but are just starting to catch on in the US. As they become more popular, more and more users will add theses utilities to their phones, and it is likely that eventually most smart phones will ship with some type of QR reader installed.

Manufacturers in the food industry are investing in Domino’s Bitjet+. This is an in-line digital printing system along with its Editor GT ink-jet and production line controller in order to print unique QR codes onto each of its bags. These QR codes provide consumers with more information on the origins of their food. This is achieved after installing new digital ink-jet printing equipment that delivers unique human-readable and QR codes in a single pass.

The unique codes, which are supplied by database and software management provider Truetrac, contain a wide range of information on the product, including farm locations, grower profiles, food safety notices, and nutritional information. These codes are managed by the Editor GT system and printed onto the bags by the Bitjet+. By scanning the code with a smartphone, consumers can find out everything about the product, including the field in which it was harvested.

Domino's Bitjet+ integrates seamlessly into existing packaging lines and is suitable for adding high-resolution variable data, including QR codes, addresses, numbers, bar codes, and graphics to a range of substrates. This new advancement into technology does not inhibit the production process what so ever.

“The Bitjet+ is the first system within the fresh produce packaging sector that prints both a unique QR code and human readable code directly onto the bag. This is important as it enables the end consumer to track back when and where their produce was harvested and packed. This even tracks the item down to the specific field where the produce was grown.” Here are some other ideas for using QR codes:

Place a QR code on your business card and users can automatically add all of your contact info to their address book:

Sometimes there just isn't enough room for everything you want to say. That's where QR codes can help... use a QR code to link to your company's homepage or important product information: