Technology has paved the way for many advancements across various industries. From the popularisation of the internet to developments in manufacturing, it has helped us work faster and be more efficient.
The labelling industry, too, has benefitted greatly from technology. Whether it’s through newer manufacturing methods or additional features to improve workflows, many significant inventions have helped thousands, if not millions, of workers.
Perhaps the most prominent invention to have benefitted the labelling industry is the QR code. But, what exactly is a QR code, and how do they help industrial businesses? Find out, here.
What is a QR Code?
The QR code is a visual identification system used in numerous ways. It shares a lot of similarities with barcodes, which serve a similar purpose. However, QR codes mainly differ in the variety of cases where they’re used.
Compared to barcodes, QR codes can store much more information due to their two-dimensional design. Barcodes store significantly less data, and are therefore mainly used for product identification, where the data can be matched to a wider database.
Conversely, QR codes can have data written into the code itself, which is then deciphered by a scanning device, be that a specialised piece of equipment or a smartphone, depending on the use case.
How are QR Codes Used in Industrial Labelling?
In many cases, the QR code has started to replace barcodes, with the latter quickly approaching ‘legacy’ status in the timeline of product identification. The versatility of QR codes makes them ideal for various applications, including but not limited to:
Product Identification
Just like a barcode, a QR code can store unique identifying information about various products through asset tagging. This can either be linked to an internal database within the packaging warehouse, or an external data provider, such as a website that hosts the product information.
Interactive Signage
In many industrial settings, there are various safety regulations and compliance rules to abide by. Sometimes, packaging up guidance onto a single brochure or sign isn’t always possible. In their place, companies can use QR codes to redirect users towards in-depth write-ups for various purposes, be that to provide training information or a usage warning for different tools and machinery.
Automation
All businesses perform better when their processes are automated. The reduction of mundane, repetitive labour frees up workers to focus on more pressing tasks.
Customer Feedback
By bridging the gap between physical and digital platforms, QR codes help companies collect data from their customers for all sorts of purposes. Perhaps the most important use in the industrial sector is the collection of customer feedback.
Providing a link to a review portal or feedback form that can only be reached by a QR code enables businesses to collect data from specific customers to gauge their satisfaction levels and alter their processes in line with said feedback.
The Benefits of QR Codes in Industrial Labelling
Efficiency Gains
QR codes help cut down the amount of manual data entry that workers are often required to do. This leads to more time-efficient workflows and frees up resources to handle more complex tasks.
Reduced Costs
As is usually the case with other efficiency improvements in business, the less time that can be spent on tasks, the more money that is saved as a result. Although the transition to QR code-based workflows may take some time, the ongoing time savings can far outweigh the initial adjustment period.
Accuracy
QR codes help automate a lot of tick-box exercises by providing the ability to ‘Scan to complete’ a series of steps in the production process, be that to sign off a product as delivered, or to scan a product throughout a quality control process. This not only helps make companies more efficient, but also improves the accuracy and reliability of their data.
Supporting Your Asset Tagging Processes
At Label Source, it’s our job to help your business run smoothly. With our high-quality labelling and asset tagging resources, we enable you to track and trace everything that’s important to you, be it a product, parcel, or piece of equipment.
For more information, take a look at our asset tagging range today. There, you’ll find a mixture of barcode labels designed for a variety of scanning and printing systems.
Need help? Reach out to our expert team.
