By: Steph Dlugon
I admit it. I always thought of bar codes as just those squiggly lines scanned by a clerk in order to input the price of an item into a cash register. But there’s a lot more to it, and the information locked within those codes can be a huge game changer for retailers and their customers.
Let’s turn to Wikipedia to get us started.
Mobile tagging is the process of providing data on mobile devices, commonly through the use of data (such as a URL) encoded in a two-dimensional barcode, meant to be read and inputted using a camera phone.
Right now there are about 72 bar code scanner apps available on iTunes ranging in price from free to $19.99.
A consumers armed with a scanner app is a force to be reckoned with. They’re scanning codes to get product data on everything from a the best price available to how many calories they just consumed in their afternoon snack.
One way retailers can get in on the action is by adopting a consumer-friendly approach to “commercial tagging.” Consumers can scan an item off the shelf and be taken to a page that lists far more information than what can fit on the price sticker. Multi-dimensional barcodes can be used as promotional tools too. Customers can scan to receive downloads or be directed to specific sites.
There’s a lot of data out there. And consumers love to have access to information in order to make smart purchasing decisions. Adopting a multi-dimensional barcode strategy not only gives customers access to valuable information, but serves as a fantastic tool for a retailer’s marketing and advertising efforts.
