A Quick Response (QR) code is an encoded piece of data that is readable by smartphones and scan guns. QR codes are an easy and effective way to retrieve product details. It offers flexibility to add information without effecting the packaging design. QR codes are also a great touch-free option to ensure health and safety practices. It is easy to generate and customize QR codes. The technology enhances user experience while ensuring faster accessibility of information. There is certainly a rise in QR code use for mobile app payments and information access. Read on to learn how to generate your own QR codes.

What is a QR Code?

QR codes consist of several black squares and dots which represent certain pieces of information. QR codes can encode over 4000 characters. Businesses can create a QR code specific to their business task or need. Even though the QR codes act the same as barcodes, QR codes are more versatile and facilitate information easily.

The difference between a QR code and a barcode is how they hold information. Barcodes hold the information in the horizontal direction, whereas QR code is a two-dimensional information reader that holds information both vertically and horizontally. QR codes can be read in 360 degrees. Also, a conventional barcode can take more printing space than a QR code.

QR Code Advantages

• Add website or app links
• Highly secure for digital payments
• Data is customizable
• Secured Wi-Fi access 
• Access details easily and securely
• Capacity to encode different types of data
• Can use different languages
• Improves customer engagement 
• Cost-effective 

How to generate a QR Code

There are many mobile and web apps available to generate QR codes. One of the custom inputs QR code generation method is ZPL viewer.

To understand QR code generation, let us consider a scenario where the requirement is to store different types of products and provide secure and organized storage in a warehouse. Products come in and employees enter the container details and store the products. The main problem during product delivery is it's difficult to find and maintain product documents. A QR code solution would  solve this problem. The QR code could show the container and product details without having to open to the container and verifying the documents, The employee just has to open a mobile app, scan the QR code for product details, and store the products appropriately.

The Labelary ZPL rendering engine supports most ZPL formatting commands. The below image illustrates the code and its respective barcode image:

 The below picture explains the code in the above picture:

Figure: QR Code Printing Process