Category: QR Codes

Greatview Aseptic Packaging will allow consumers to trace their products back to the source.

Customers shopping for certain brands of milk will soon be able to scan QR codes printed on their cartons in order to be able to learn about the history of that specific product, right back to its beginnings.

These quick response codes are the result of a new program through Greatview Aseptic Packaging.

This company is the second largest roll-fed aseptic carton packaging material supplier in the world. It has made it possible to add traceable unique QR codes to its cartons by working along with other parts of the supply chain, WeChat (from Tencent) and RT-Mart (from Mengniu), the Chinese retailer. In this way, it has been able to add the Traceable+ feature to the “Selected Meadow” brand of milk.

Customers can use their smartphones to scan the QR codes to trace their milk products back to their origins.

By doing this, they will not only be able to learn about the specific milk carton that they have scanned, and its history, but they can also receive additional value added services such as price discounts. This effort by Greatview is meant to benefit both the consumer and the supply chain and producers by providing targeted advertising opportunities unlike those that are currently available.

The Mengniu COO, Bai Ying, explained that “Our partnership with Greatview, WeChat and RT-Mart has been inspired by China’s ‘Internet Plus’ strategy, which aims to integrate the internet with traditional industries. For consumers, our new offering means a more comprehensive user experience, while for us it represents a window for leveraging a fully functional big data platform.”

The Greatview CEO, Jeff Bi, also explained that the Food Safety Law in China now states that manufacturers are responsible for the creation of complete traceability systems for their supply chains. By implementing the QR codes on milk cartons, the company has been able to not only comply with this upcoming law, but it also makes it possible for producers and consumers to benefit from what it has to provide in terms of both information and advertising.

QR codes are having an impact among South African consumers

QR codes have had a major impact on mobile commerce in South Africa. These codes have become a very prominent tool in the mobile commerce space due to how easy they are to use and produce. The codes can direct consumers to a wide variety of digital information, but can also be used to initiate a mobile transaction, making them ideal tools to merchants that want to sell products to mobile consumers quickly.

Research shows that consumers are using codes for a variety of reasons

World Wide Worx, a technology research firm, has released analysis that shows that more than 2 million people in South Africa are using QR codes via mobile applications. These codes are being used for a wide range of reasons, such as adding a person’s contact information to a messaging app. They are also being used to sell products to mobile consumers. When scanned, these codes can provide information on particular products, while also giving consumers the option to purchase the products that they are interested in.

Young consumers show the most interest in QR codes

Notably, QR codes are most popular among those between the ages of 25 and 34. These consumers are more comfortable with the concept of mobile commerce and believe that these codes are effective tools to engage in this sector. The codes are also praised for their social aspects, as they have become quite popular among social media users in South Africa. The codes can be programmed to store contact details and other such information.

QR codes help power growth of mobile commerce

Consumers in South Africa have shown a great deal of interest in mobile commerce. New payment platforms have managed to win the support of these consumers and retailers are beginning to take notice. As such, merchants are looking for ways to embrace the concept of mobile commerce and some have begun turning to QR codes in order to do so. Some had predicted that QR codes would die off in the coming years, but mobile commerce may have saved these codes for the time being.