GREAT! List: Top 10 Best Two Dimensional (2D) Scan Code Uses in the U.S. in 2010 [Including Quick Response (QR); ScanLife EZcodes; and Tag]

December 22, 2010 – Atlanta, GA USA – Here are the Top 10 Best Two Dimensional Scan Code Uses in the United States in 2010, in a list compiled by GREAT! CEO and Chief Creative Officer Dan Smigrod. [Two Dimensional (2D) scan codes include: Quick Response (QR)* codes; ScanLife EZcodes; or Microsoft Tags.]

Vancouver, BC Canada Mobio Makes GREAT! List: Top 10 Best Scan Code Uses in the U.S. in 2010

Adding-value by activating print marketing campaigns with video; enabling faster and easier mobile payments; and enhancing customer buying experiences are among the examples sited in the list of Top 10 Best 2D Scan Code Uses in the U.S. in 2010.

Despite more than 101 major U.S. brands using scan codes in 2010; more than 50 major U.S. media using scan codes in 2010, more than 300 major stories covering the use of 2D codes in the U.S. in 2010; and huge interest in learning more about scan codes in the U.S. – picking the top 10 best scan code uses in the U.S. in 2010 was challenging.

The key to successfully using scan codes is adding-value for the consumer. Unfortunately, of the more than 101 uses for scan codes, most implementation of scan codes in the U.S. do not live up to their potential either because the 2D scan codes fail to add-value to the customer experience; or make embarrassing mistakes in the scan code implementation that detract from consumers’ scan code experience.

When we look back in December 2011 to the Top 10 Best Two Dimensional (2D) Scan Code Uses in 2011, we will see terrific scan code uses that leverage: location; payment processing; brand loyalty; transaction; dynamic pricing; how to and entertainment videos; mashups of new products and services; creative use of traditional and social media; product packaging; 1:1 personalization; real-time data; pro-social; Augmented Reality (AR); and new smartphone capabilities – as smartphones continue to become both ubiquitous and with us nearly 24/7.

In the mean time, here are the …

Top 10 Best Two Dimensional (2D) Scan Code Uses in 2010 by GREAT!

  1. Best Buy – by including a QR code on every product fact card, Best Buy enhances the retail shopping experience by providing easy-access to all product features and the ability to compare product features.
  2. Starbucks – Mobile payments meets Caramel Frappuccino meets QR code meets smartphone. [wallet-free customer experience transaction] [Editor's Note: 1/19/11: Starbucks lets you pay for that Trenta with the iPhone in your shaking, over-caffeinated hands, reports Engadget on 1/19/11).]
  3. Mobio – Mobile payments meets [any participating merchant] QR code meets smartphone [wall-free customer experience transaction] via Vancouver, BC Canada based Mobio Identify Systems service.
  4. Mogotix – QR code meets paperless event ticketing
  5. clikbrix – House for sale meets drive-by prospect meets QR Code meets tech-savvy Realtor
  6. Qlinks for Lynx [Orlando Bus] – How long until my bus actually arrives [versus scheduled to arrive]? – GPS meets QR Code meets smartphone for real-time bus arrivals
  7. Calvin Klein Jeans – publicity stunt meets activating print with (scantily clad models) video. [Prediction: more buzz marketing campaigns leveraging 2D scan codes in 2011 from savvy marketers]
  8. Movie Trailers (and buy movie tickets now)/TV Show Sneak Previews/Video Games – activating movie; TV shows and video game release print marketing campaigns with video. Examples: Fox TV Network;  Electronic Arts Medal of Honor video game; HBO; Starz; Target Christmas Catalog (video game) and Universal Pictures
  9. Tommy Bahama – sunglasses meets activating print ad meets ‘buy now’ on a smartphone
  10. Apple iTunes Store – newspaper and magazine print (and web) editorial content: it’s just easier and faster to scan the code to download the app; song, album, book or other digital content.

Which scan code uses in 2010 do you feel should have made this Top 10 list and why? Please comment below (and please include a URL pointing to your scan code example).

Special Thanks

  • John Meyer for inspiring this blog post with his question, “What is the most creative use of 2D/QR barcode you have seen [in 2010].”

Bonus GREAT! Scan Code Lists:

Bonus

Here are daily online newspapers about scan codes:

  1. The @uSCANme #QRcode Daily published by @uSCANme (@smigrod)
  2. The QR Media Daily published by @QRmedia
  3. The Qr-Codes Daily published by @QRmedia
  4. The #QR Daily using the Twitter hastag: #qr
  5. The qr code Daily published by @waynesutton
  6. The #qrcode Daily using the Twitter hastag: #qrcode
  7. The #qrcodes Daily using the Twitter hastag: #qrcodes
  8. The qr Daily published by @tppowers

For more daily online newspapers about scan codes, please click here.

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Subscribe to the Free Daily Online Scan Code Newspaper From GREAT!

That’s GREAT! Quick Response (QR) Scan Code Resources

1.     That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  101 Ideas for Using QR Codes
2.     That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  101 ‘Pointers’ for Using QR Codes
3.     That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  101 Major U.S. Brands Using QR Codes
4.     That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  50 Major Media Companies Using QR Codes
5.     That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Using QR Codes
6.     That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  Top 10 Best QR Codes Uses in the U.S
7.     That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  (Video) ‘10 Reasons Free QR Codes Will Bite Me In The Tush’
8.     That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  (Video) What’s the Return on Investment (ROI) on QR Codes?
9.     That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  (Video) – 2011 is the Year of the Quick Response Code
10.   That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  Multiple Choice:  (2010) (2011) (2012) is the Year of the QR Code
11.   That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  Top 300 Must Read QR Code Articles
12.   That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  Top 150 Must Read QR Code Articles
13.   That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  How Newspapers Can Use QR Codes to Delay the Demise of Print
14.   That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  QR Code Book : ‘I Live in the Future & Here’s How It Works
15.   That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  Top 10 Reasons EZcodes Are Better Than QR Codes
16.   That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  Guest Post: The 10 Commandments for Marketers
17.   That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  Guest Post: How to Use QR Codes to Promote Your Business
18.   That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  Guest Post: An Introduction to QR Codes
19.   That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  Product Camp Atlanta: 25 QR Code Ideas in 10 Minutes
20.   That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  Follow Dan Smigrod’s QR Twitter Account: uSCANme
21.   That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  Free Daily Online QR Code Newspaper (The uSCANme Daily)
22.   That’s GREAT! – QR Code 101:  All ‘That’s GREAT!’ QR Code Lists, Videos, Articles and Resources

Bonus: GREAT! ScanLife Promo Code (“Invitation Code”) = great (for small, medium, large businessesand agency/resellers so you can play with a robust, paid scan code platform (For example: generate free QR codes to practice with and generate usage reports for these codes). When you are ready to use the scan codes commercially, please request a quote from ScanLife or email GREAT! CEO Dan Smigrod.

Short URL For This Story

  • http://j.mp/10BestQRUses

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*Though Quick Response (QR) brand scan codes are a registered trademark of Toyota subsidiary Denso-Wave, Quick Response Code (QR) are commonly – and incorrectly – used generically to refer to all two dimensional (2D) codes: including ScanLife EZcode brand codes; Microsoft Tag codes; datamatrix codes; and still other scan codes that are scanned or photographed on a smartphone such as an iPhone 4. Saying Quick Response code or QR code is like saying that you TIVOed the TV show when you actually used the Comcast brand digital video recorder to record the TV show.

YouTube Preview Image
Video: The Making of The New York Times Magazine Quick Response (QR) Scan Code Cover (12/19/10)
Disclosures

*Though Quick Response (QR) brand scan codes are a registered trademark of Toyota subsidiary Denso-Wave, Quick Response Code (QR) are commonly – and incorrectly – used generically to refer to all Two Dimensional (2D) mobile barcodes: including ScanLife EZcode brand scan codes; Microsoft Tag codes; datamatrix codes; and still other scan codes that are scanned or photographed on a smartphone such as an iPhone 4. Saying Quick Response code or QR code is like saying that you TIVOed the TV show when you actually used the Comcast brand digital video recorder to record the TV show.