BWild |
February 27, 2013
New application makes use of QR codes to make mobile payments easier for consumers
Bancontact, a Belgian electronic payments firm, has launched a new mobile application that will help introduce a new service into the realm of mobile commerce. Consumers around the world have shown strong interest in mobile commerce, which includes online shopping, banking, and payment transfers. In order to meet the demands coming from consumers regarding comprehensive mobile commerce services, Bancontact has introduced a new application, which focuses on the use of QR codes.
Codes may be very useful for personal transactions
QR codes are most commonly used in mobile marketing and have excelled in this particular field. The codes allow consumers to access digital information from their smartphones and tablets. The codes have begun seeing use in the field of mobile commerce, with retailers like Tesco using them to facilitate electronic payments for products. Bancontact believes that the codes could be especially useful in helping consumers transfer funds to one another.
QR codes generated by the application can be used to initiate payments
The new application from Bancontact leverages QR codes to allow users to send money to each other. The application could be particularly beneficial for those that operate their own businesses as it allows them to accept electronic payments for their goods and services more easily. The application can be used to generate a QR code that is associated with a certain amount of money. When this code is scanned by another person, they will be able to make a payment directly to the code’s owner.
Codes may soon become powerful mobile commerce tool
Currently, the application can only facilitate payments of up to $20. The application is available for the Android and iOS platforms and is available to Bancount’s 15 million cardholders. Bancount believes that the application will help draw more attention to QR codes and their use in mobile commerce. The codes are likely to remain a very powerful mobile marketing tool, but may soon become one of the most widely used mobile commerce tools.
ScanLife releases new study concerning QR codes
ScanLife, a mobile advertising firm specializing in QR codes, has released a new study concerning the scanning of QR codes and how they can be used effectively by brands. QR codes are already popular marketing tools and have been so for some time. Despite this, however, many companies are still uncertain on how to use them effectively. ScanLife has long been an advocate for QR codes, claiming that companies can see major gains if they were to use the codes in an effective manner. The firm has released its new study in the hopes of spreading awareness on the capabilities of QR codes.
Study draws information from more than 200 codes and thousands of scans
For this study, ScanLife made use of more than 200 QR codes, which generated thousands of scans each. These scans were tracked by the company’s Mobile Engagement Platform, which provided ScanLife with valuable analytic data concerning the use of its QR codes. Each of the codes were linked to mobile websites that were created by advertisers using the ScanLife platform, providing context sensitive content for consumers rather than sending them to random places on the Internet.
QR codes highly effective when targeting specific demographics
According to the study, the majority of people who scanned the QR codes are interested in particular products and services. ScanLife notes that this makes QR codes very effective when used to target a specific demographic, but less effective for a broader marketing approach. The study shows that 62% of all scans translated into further engagement. The study suggests that consumers presented with content relevant to their interests were much more likely to get engaged in marketing campaigns.
Codes still useful even when compared to interactive technologies
QR codes are often used as an all-encompassing mobile marketing tool. The codes have shown their value to marketers by proving that they can be effective in engaging tech-savvy consumers, but have begun losing popularity to more interactive technologies, such as NFC and augmented reality. ScanLife notes that QR codes can still be highly effective if marketers use them to target a very specific audience.
