PayPal sets sights on QR codes
Commerce giant Pa
yPal continues to look for ways to engage the ever growing mobile consumer population. The company has had a keen interest in mobile commerce for some time, and has been eager to offer services to consumers that are interested in making payments using their mobile devices. Initially, PayPal had plans to make use of NFC technology to provide these services to consumers. The technology proved to be less than ideal for the company. Now, PayPal is setting its sights on QR codes.
Codes beginning to see traction in mobile commerce
QR codes are most often used in advertising as a way to provide consumers with information on products. The codes can be scanned by simple barcode scanning applications, making them easily accessible to consumers. Recently, QR codes have been getting more attention for their possible uses in mobile commerce. Retail companies, such as the UK’s Tesco, have begun experimenting with the codes in so called “pop-up” stores — virtual stores that use QR codes to sell products.
PayPal campaign to use QR codes in shop windows
PayPal is set to launch a new mobile commerce pilot project in Amsterdam that revolves around QR codes. The project will take place in the shopping district, De 9 Straatjes. More than 30 retailers that are located in this district have teamed with PayPal for the initiative. These stores will serve as host to QR codes that will be placed in shop windows. When these codes are scanned, consumers are directed to a mobile website where they can see all the products the store offers. Consumers can then purchase their desired products through PayPal and have their purchase mailed to their home.
Company expects mobile commerce to become more popular
PayPal has an acute interest in mobile commerce and believes that mobile technology will be play a major role in the lives of consumers, especially where spending money is concerned. Already, many consumers have become reliant on their mobile devices to pay bills and search for products online. PayPal expects that this trend will gain momentum in the coming years.
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.
