It’s been awhile since we did a basic 101 post, so we thought we would take a look at how retailers can use barcodes (both 2D and 1D) to help give shoppers valuable content.  After all, the holidays are right around the corner!  Check out this recent report from Sterling Commerce which has some pretty amazing numbers, including 25% of people are already using their phones to price compare (with ScanLife and other apps).

Why Should a Retailer Use ScanLife?

1. Give shoppers deeper information, without needing to leave the store or spend time away from the shopping experience.
2. Provide cross-sell opportunities by matching products, linking to online inventory information, or linking to online communities to get friend recos.  60% of people want inventory info in the store.
   
3. Existing UPC codes on products or hang tags can be registered to link to specific content without needing to print new material

How are Codes Being Used in Retail?

There are a number of ways this technology has been used and can be used.  Here are a few, but the options are virtually endless!

• Drive shoppers to retail from outside marketing like print, direct mail, etc. Consumer can view closest store locations and current sales.
• Codes are placed in storefront windows that enable potential shoppers to purchase an item on their mobile device when the store is closed, or enter the store with a discount offer.  See the Norma Kamali campaign as a great example.
• Codes placed at the point of sale that show complimentary products or demo videos of how the product can be used or worn.
• Link the customer to view alternative size or colors, and order online if it is not available in store.
• Offer a discount for an item which can be redeemed at check out (if capable) or by email rebate.
• “Lotto” codes that offer shoppers the chance to win a product instantly. See the Norma Kamali campaign as a great example.
• Check in by scanning a code that links to Foursquare for exclusive offers which other visitors can’s see.

You can download a White Paper on this topic here, and feel free to add your retail ideas below!

The ScanLife “Crazy Code” Competition came to a close when we announced Susan Lambeck as our winner.  We saw a wide variety of innovative ways to use ScanLife – turtles to toilet paper were adorned with 2D codes!

But, it was Susan’s idea of putting a QR code on a stamp that really caught our attention.  Custom stamps can be created with a unique code so when a friend receives a letter, they can scan it to automatically send a text message confirming receipt.

Here at ScanLife we agreed that this was worthy of the iPad prize as it has a bit of “crazy” but it also demonstrates the power of mobile barcode technology.

Read the rest of this entry »

We told you a couple months ago that Verizon has integrated codes into their new Droid Does campaign which touts a wide variety of Android apps for any occasion.   The QR Codes have been placed on print ads, store displays, websites, and even iPad ads.  And guess what, they got scanned – over 150,000 200,000 times!! (as of 8/15/10)

You can view a full case study right here.  Bottom line is that this is the most widely scanned 2D barcode campaign we have ever seen in the US, and it’s still going full force…

Women of the Storm, a group which started during the Katrina disaster, is rallying to restore America’s Gulf coast which has left that area in shambles once again.  They have just launched a new effort called “Be the One” which intends to galvanize the nation around demanding that government leaders address this critical issue.

ScanLife is proud to be a partner by providing this QR Code to help give people an easy way to help.  By scanning it, you will be linked to a mobile site where you can sign a petition and watch a video from celebrities like Sandra Bullock.

You can also buy a t-shirt with the code to show their support.  “Scan the Tag, Sign the Petition, Be the One.”

This is another great example of how 2D barcodes are going mainstream and how they can help connect us all to a wide variety of causes.

And Win an iPad!

Here at ScanLife, we’ve seen people use 2D codes in some pretty wild ways – from crackers to crop circles…

But, this is all just the tip of the iceberg, and we know you can come up with some ideas that take it to the next level!

So, we are giving away a new iPad to the person that sends us a photo of the most brilliant, fresh, and crazy place for a 2D code.

Here’s how it works:

1. Create your 2D code – you can create one for free from www.scanlife.com
2. Link it to whatever you want – your Facebook page, Twitter feed, blog – working codes get you bonus points!
3. Place your code where ever you think it needs to be! (Photo-shopped images will be accepted)
4. Take a picture of the code and upload it to our Facebook wall – www.facebook.com/scanlife .   Please try to leave a short explanation in the caption.  You will need to “Like” ScanLife to add a photo, but hopefully you’re fond of us already.

Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve seen some pretty wild used of ScanLife, and this is up there!

A public art exhibition dubbed, “Sidewalk Catwalk” launched last week which consists of 32 mannequins – each one created by top American designers.  One of the mannequins was designed by a big ScanLife supporter, Norma Kamali.  She used this opportunity to blend fashion with technology by covering her mannequin from head to toe in red 2D ScanLife codes.  Each code instantly links to one of 17 unique videos related to Kamali’s collection.

Open ScanLife, and try it out! (You may need to click on the image to enlarge.)

As you may remember, Kamali introduced ScanLife throughout her store in NYC, but this is really taking it to a new level!  The mannequins will be auctioned off for charity at the end of the Summer on Labor Day.

You can check out some coverage on the story from the NY Daily News.

Today, ScanLife announced that is has released a tool to make it really simple to launch the ScanLife universal barcode scanner from any 3rd party app.  This is a free tool that will first be available to the Android OS, and other leading operating systems will be offered soon.  We have received plenty of requests for this tool from marketers and publishers that are already planning to place 2D codes on material like magazines or packaging.  This gives your app users a way to scan those codes right from your own app.

How does it work?

1. A developer integrates the sdk into an app (see SDK documentation)
2. The user clicks on an icon or button to launch scanner
3. Generic ScanLife app is launched (or it is downloaded)
4. Codes are scanned as usual

Read the rest of this entry »

By now you’ve probably seen ScanLife’s codes in the pages of Metro News, Esquire Magazine, Popular Mechanics, Wired, and many more publications.

This week, Edmonton Journal, a daily newspaper, introduced ScanLife to their readers with a big splash.  They printed a giant code on their front page, placed shelf talkers wherever papers were sold, and even celebrated with a launch party!

The codes allow readers to get more info from content like the Bistro section with restaurant reviews and recipes.  Each columnist also has their own code so readers can interact and comment on certain stories.  Many more applications will be added over the coming days.

Here is some video from the launch party.



Thanks to Mastermaq for the images and video!

ScanLife has released an update to its ScanLife Code Management Platform which has some great features for Business accounts.  The first and largest is that we have added the ability to generate both QR Codes and Datamatrix codes right from ScanLife.  These will be in addition to the EZcode – all of which the ScanLife app can read on any supported phone.

Read the rest of this entry »

For anyone watching TV lately in the US, you may have noticed that Verizon has launched an update to their popular “DROID DOES” campaign.  The new ads are now touting a huge world of apps available through Android Market – basically there’s more than one kind of phone that gives us a bunch of apps.

Notice anything familiar in the middle of the image below?

The great part is that they are using 2D barcodes, specifically QR codes, on most media as part of the campaign (print ads, in-store displays, website, and even an iPad ad).  These codes are of course powered by ScanLife, and there is usually a call to action which drives people to get the ScanLife app if they don’t already have a barcode reader on the phone by texting SCAN to 43588.

You can check out their website here, and here are a few images:

iPad Ad:

The purpose of the codes is two-fold. It gives Android phones easy and direct access to apps that are relevant to the topic being covered in the ad.  So if you’re flipping through Travel & Leisure, you can scan the code to get some great travel related apps like Lookout.  But, if you don’t have an Android phone, Verizon will recognize that and instead take you to a mobile formatted site about the DROID.  From here they will convince you that you have a sub-par phone, and need to buy the DROID ASAP.

This is a great example of how to convert something that is static into a virtual download/information portal.  In one scan, you are downloading apps or learning more about what you could do with this device if you actually had one.

It is fantastic to see the largest US carrier using the technology, and we are thrilled to have Verizon leading the way!