7 awesome QR code marketing campaigns

QR codes are a bridge between offline and online in the smartphone age. In the absence of links, they guide potential new users and faithful customers to a brand’s store, social media account, or promo page. We’ve come up with a list of clever QR code marketing ideas we’ve seen in Asia – a nice mix of one-off novelty uses and practical, daily use-cases. While not all these QR code campaign examples relate to marketing in the strict sense of being used in adverts, they’re all part of a connection between us and the web – and that easy segue is a vital part of easing ordinary people into adopting something. That helps a product or marketing campaign to go viral.

Schmersal RSS260 safety sensors with RFID technology

Control Logic presents the new Schmersal RSS260 safety sensor designed to combine RFID technology and a high switching distance in a compact and tamperproof design. The various actuators allow optimal integration of the safety sensors in the surrounding architecture of removable, hinged and sliding covers and doors. All variants offer a high level of tamper resistance as the RFID-based sensor technology permits individual actuator coding.

The safety sensor in its basic version accepts any suitable RSS260 family target. A second version for increased tamper resistance only responds to an individually assigned target; however, the teaching process can be repeated any number of times. The third version offers the highest level of tamper resistance and only accepts the target presented at initial power up.

SITA gets smart with boarding passes

Airlines can now offer their ultra tech-savvy passengers the chance to board their flight with a mere flick of their wrist and scan of their smartwatch. SITA Lab continues to innovate and lead in the area of wearable tech by providing boarding passes for Android watches via its API available now on developer.aero. A simple alert via Android Wear technology will remind the passenger of their flight at the appropriate time and location. A quick swipe reveals the boarding pass and a second swipe displays the barcode allowing the passenger to get through theairport checkpoints and board the plane.

Nuclear Facility Tests RFID on Pipe Welds

French technology-based tracking solutions company Beweis has developed an RFID-enabled system for verifying that pipes have been properly welded at nuclear power plants and petrochemical facilities, and for tracking the soundness of those welds via radiographic images.

eBay barcode scanner app brings stealth price checking to Google Glass

Barcode scanners have been helping shoppers save money since the dawn of the smartphone era, but getting busted looking for a better deal online by the struggling independent store owner sure is embarrassing. However, help is at hand for guilt-ridden Google Glass Explorers who can now perform on-the-sly price comparisons thanks to the launch of the eBay RedLaser app on Google's high tech headpiece.

Steel Association Introduces QR Code-based Scheme to Thwart Test Result Fabrication

In order to prevent the instances of fabricating mill test certificates and thereby reduce the volume of low-quality steel product imports, the Korean Iron & Steel Association has introduced a new QR code-based scheme called “QReal” and entered an emergency mode to fully implement the scheme.  According to the association, the imports of steel products during the first half of the year were 11.21 million tons, up 15.5 percent from the same period last year. Of these, as much as 6.55 million tons, or 58.4 percent, originated from China, rising 31.0 percent from a year ago.

Basuki Admits Jakarta Smart Card Not Effective

Acting Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama conceded the Jakarta Smart Card (KJP) program, an education aid scheme designed to help underprivileged students in the capital, was ineffective, saying the city was putting together an additional program to support poor students study beyond high school level. “KJP can only support the students for three years [in high school],” Basuki said on Monday. “We will evaluate it because it is not very effective.” The Jakarta Smart Card, or Kartu Jakarta Pintar, was introduced by Basuki and Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo when they were elected in 2012. It was designed to provide a monthly allowance to students at risk of dropping out of school.

The Meaning of a Retail CEO's Comments on RFID

I am often asked when radio frequency identification technology will take off, and I have replied, only half-jokingly, that it will happen when financial analysts begin asking CEOs about their RFID deployments during conference calls to discuss quarterly or year-end results. "CEOs suddenly gain an understanding of the value of new technologies when Wall Street is expecting them to be using it," I would explain. I saw this when I covered Internet technologies for Information Week and The Industry Standard. CEOs who were quoted as saying the Internet was hyped and had no business value one week would suddenly be throwing money at Internet projects after analysts pressed them to explain their Internet strategy.

China-Made Handheld Barcode Scanners Ship with Spyware

Some Chinese-manufactured shipping-barcode handheld scanners — of the type used by many United States retailers and warehouses, as well as delivery services such as UPS and FedEx — were found to have sophisticated spyware preloaded on them, according to San Mateo, California-based security company TrapX. Dubbed "Zombie Zero," the information-stealing malware is likely part of a state-sponsored industrial-espionage campaign.

UCF grad marketing RFID security 'shield' used by White House

Nolan Wilson, 40, has taken a break from his life on the Nascar racing circuit to market what he calls RFID "Military Grade" wallets and passport billfolds designed to stop high-tech thieves. The UCF class of '97 communications graduate has the exclusive franchise rights for a special fabric lining sewn in nylon wallets and billfolds. The items are assembled in Georgia and sold to consumers online and soon in an airport near you.

​QR codes aren't useless after all, study says

Nielsen's latest report on mobile payments isn't too surprising, save one tidbit: people like using QR codes. The study found that mobile payment users actually prefer methods involving quick response (QR) codes or bar codes. Almost half, 45 percent, of the nearly 4,000 people surveyed by Nielsen said they use the method to check out with their smartphones. Akin to bar codes, QR codes are blocks of printed code used to store large amounts of digital information. For a time, they were showing up everywhere -- on product packaging, ads, marketing campaigns -- but were seen as unnecessary or gimmicky. In mobile payments, cashiers can simply scan the codes displayed on a customer's smartphone as they would any bar code.

ISA Boutique Tracks Inventory, Shopper Behavior Via RFID

China's ISA Boutique is installing a radio frequency identification system at one of its stores, after determining that the technology provided valuable data following an initial installation at another location. The RFID readers and antennas, supplied by Convergence Systems Ltd. (CSL), enables the store to track its fine jewelry and to know not only what is stocked within the cabinets, but also when a particular piece is removed from the cabinet and returned—and how often—thereby providing analytics regarding how well customers like each item.

Zara Increases RFID Implementation for Faster Fast Fashion

If Zara’s speed to market was not yet speedy enough, its parent company Inditex recently announced it would add radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging to its supply chain processes in a much bigger way. The technology will allow for garment tracking from logistics platforms through to ultimate sale.

Coles launches mobile wallet

Australian grocery retail giant, Coles, announced the launch of its mobile wallet, combining a new smartphone app for iPhone and Android, near-field communications (NFC) sticker for contactless payment, and the integration of its existing Coles MasterCard. The Coles Mobile Wallet comes around 18 months after the company first trialled its Coles Pay Tag NFC patch, and is also integrated with the company's Flybuys program in addition to its credit card program.

Systematic Laundry in Singapore Installs InvoTech UHF-RFID Laundry System for Efficient Operations

InvoTech Systems, Inc. announced Systematic Laundry installed the InvoTech UHF-RFID Laundry System to efficiently manage resort laundry operations. The InvoTech Laundry System streamlines and automates laundry operations, cuts labor costs, and provides real-time information to lower operating expenses. Systematic Laundry processes up to 20,000 garments per day for Resorts World Sentosa and 50,000 garments per day for other hotel clients and international airlines. Click here for more information on InvoTech’s Linen, Uniform, and Laundry Systems.

“The savings are magnificent with the InvoTech UHF-RFID Laundry System,” said TP Chan, CEO of Systematic Laundry. “The system considerably reduced employee involvement. This is important to us since the cost of per-employee labor is high in Singapore. With the InvoTech System, we can reallocate manpower to other processes within the laundry. This saves us money.”

The InvoTech Laundry System at Systematic Laundry interfaces with the InvoTech Uniform System at Systematic Laundry’s largest client, Resorts World Sentosa. The interface enables the UHF-RFID laundry tags in the Resort’s uniforms to automate operations at the properties and the laundry. The InvoTech systems also interface with the White Conveyors Mercury Sorting System and U-Pick-It System to automate uniform sorting at the laundry and the distribution of the uniforms at the resorts.

The InvoTech Laundry System eliminates many time- and labor-intensive tasks, such as separating and hand-counting uniforms and linens that ship into and out of the laundry. “InvoTech also automates recordkeeping by electronically reading and recording RFID tags attached to the uniforms and linens. Then it instantly tracks laundry activity, location, and billing per customer, which removes many manual errors,” Chan said.

RFID Readers Validate Location of Customer Orders, Monitor Uniform Usage and Aging
“Systematic Laundry now serves its customers better than it could before,” says Chan. “Clients sometimes have questions that pertain to their order not being returned. Our operations team is now able to tell them quickly and precisely where the order stands, whether it be in rewash, repair or already delivered.” The RFID readers validate where each customer’s order is at all times. This cuts labor costs and provides real-time information for continued cost-saving benefits. “InvoTech’s Laundry System even monitors the usage and aging of articles to maintain quality standards and forecast purchases for our clients,” Chan said.

“InvoTech’s UHF-RFID Laundry System enables laundries and related businesses to eliminate costs for unaccounted losses and reduce employee and laundry errors,” says Oswald Lares, director of sales for InvoTech Systems. “By reducing labor costs and removing the error-related expenses, operators often see a full ROI from our Laundry System in about one year.”

NFC Promotion Boosts Pepsi's Midwest Sales

Having completed a Near Field Communication (NFC) technology pilot as part of a product promotion for PepsiCo, logistics company Rehrig Pacific has launched a second project this month at the Mall of America, located in Minneapolis. During the Mall of America installation, participants can tap their smartphones against NFC tags at Pepsi product displays in order to access promotional and discount information from Pepsi, mall stores and next week's Major League Baseball All-Star Game. (Pepsi is a sponsor of Mall of America and the All-Star Game.)

The Emerging Marketplace for RFID Data Analytics, or Finding a Needle in a Haystack

At the grocery checkout, there are two printers. One prints your receipt, while the other outputs a strip of coupons just for you. Usually buy Barq's root beer? Try Mug for free next time. Most likely, Catalina Marketing owns the second printer and uses loyalty card data to target promotions, generating substantially higher redemption rates than other methods. The company claims to have the largest shopper history database in existence—some 2,500 terabytes of information. Data mining for retailers and brand owners is a profitable business. Catalina generated $661 million in revenue during a recent 12-month period with an EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) of about $230 million.

Woodside Tests New Passive-Active RFID Tag

With the goal of making mega-constructions projects leaner and more efficient, Australian oil and gas company Woodside Energy Ltd. is testing a dual-frequency passive-active RFID tag developed specifically for use by Woodside and other oil and gas firms. What makes the Smart Tag (or W-Tag) different from other tags, Woodside claims, is its intrinsically safe certification combined with long- and short-frequency ranges, which enables petrochemical facilities to track components via radio frequency identification.

Facets Physical Asset Management solution goes RFID at SABC

When assets are physical items it is important to actually see the item and then have a means of confirmation that you have seen it. In certain cases – it is not easy to scan or reach the asset – even if it is seen. This is the case at the SABC with studio lighting and artworks. To solve this problem Cradle Technology Services has added RFID capability to the Facets system and together with EOH, have implemented this technology at the SABC. The Facets Physical Asset Management (PAM) solution allows you to capture, identify, move, update, transact and report so you know where you can find and asset or where to look for them when they are not found.

National Taiwan Museum of Fine Art Adopts Active-Passive RFID Solution

The National Taiwan Museum of Fine Art  (NTMOFA) has launched a hybrid passive and active radio frequency identification system to manage the movements of its artwork and visitors into and out of its warehouse, and to identify the locations of works of art at one its 24 exhibit halls. The solution, provided by EPC Solutions Taiwan, includes passive and active RFID-enabled carts, fixed passive RFID portals at the warehouse egresses, passive tags on art and Futaba Electronics Taiwan software to manage the collected read data.

East Midlands Ambulance Service Uses RFID to Track Equipment Quickly

The management of critical equipment aboard ambulances involves not only ensuring that each item intended to treat a patient is onboard when needed, but also providing scheduled maintenance and servicing to guarantee that if a piece of equipment is required during an emergency, it will function as expected. East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) NHS Trust is tracking onboard equipment within its ambulances via an RFID solution known as CheckedOK Medical. The solution, provided by CoreRFID, consists of EPC Gen 2 ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) passive RFID tags applied to medical equipment (such as resuscitators, ventilators and monitoring devices), as well as handheld readers to capture the ID numbers encoded to those tags, and software residing on CoreRFID's hosted server that stores data.

Scottevest Debuts the World's First RFID-Blocking Clothing

Technically, anyone who jousts regularly or thinks of chainmail as casual-wear has some pretty decent RFID-blocking technology built into their clothing already, but for the rest of us, Scottevest has just released the world's first (non-Renaissance-fair) RFID-blocking clothing item. The RFID-blocking vest has an interior pocket and is available in men's and women's styles. Even if you don't yet have the type of credit card you can just tap on a card reader instead of swipe, you may still be vulnerable to RFID identity theft if you are carrying smartphone or a passport issued since 2006.

Datex Launches WMS and 3PL WMS Software Editions for Small Business

Supply chain software developer Datex Corporation announced special warehouse management software editions for small business warehouse, distribution and third party logistics operations. The Datex Small Business Editions are designed to be ideal for small business supply chain logistics operations, either startup businesses or those with less complex business needs.

The Datex FootPrint WMS Small Business software editions provide excellent functionality for warehouse, distribution and third party logistics operations at a lower cost. These software editions are packaged to enable small businesses to save time, money and labor and provide them with a competitive advantage to earn new business, explained Michael Armanious, Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Datex FootPrint WMS SBE for 3PL includes sophisticated, easy to use billing to enable third party logistics providers to capture and bill for all value added services. In addition, the warehouse management software also includes an online portal for 3PL customers to access inventory and reports as well as the ability for 3PLs to customize labeling, reports and documentation for their customers. EDI services can also be added to the software editions.

Datex FootPrint WMS relies on workflow to power accurate, efficient productive business processes. Datex FootPrint WMS can be used with RF or RFID solutions to provide complete real time inventory visibility and tracking.

Has NFC Become Unfashionable with Wearables?

Here's my ideal mobile payments scenario: I go up to the counter with an NFC smartwatch or an NFC Ring, wave my hand or wrist Jedi-style over the contactless card reader, and the payment goes through. Maybe a digital receipt will show up on my phone's screen, but I'd never have to take the phone out of my pocket. Sadly, this process is looking more like science fiction than science fact, now that the specs for Google's inaugural line of Android Wear smartwatches are out – and Near Field Communication is conspicuously absent from the features of the LG G watch and the Samsung Gear Live watch.

Apple market share forces Suncorp Bank to eschew NFC for QR codes

Suncorp Bank has introduced a new feature to its mobile banking app called QuickShare that allows its customers to share their account details through SMS or QR code to be paid by both Suncorp Bank customers and non-Suncorp Bank customers. QuickShare — launched last weekend for Android and iOS smartphone users — allows Suncorp Bank mobile app users to share their account details along with how much is owed to them through a virtual IOU via SMS to any contact on their phone. The recipient can then copy and paste the details sent to them into their banking app to pay back the sender.

Cavitex is first PHL tollway to implement RFID payment system

Drivers passing through Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) can now opt to pay toll fee without having to roll down their windows to pay cash or swipe a card. This is possible via radio frequency identification (RFID) stickers called EasyDrive, a "paper-thin sticker that contains a chip and an antenna" attached to a vehicle's windshield. It utilizes radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, which is being applied on a Philippines tollway for the first time.