Last fall Apple included an update in its newly released iOS 11: a native QR code reader. Remember QR codes? They are the fancy square barcodes that, once scanned, do things like open websites. They were supposed to be the next great thing a few years ago but didn’t really take off like they thought they would. Now all you have to do is point your iPhone camera at a code, and it’s automatically activated. Codes can be used to log into Wi-Fi networks (no more typing out passwords), make a purchase with PayPal and even send pre-populated Tweets and texts.
Other major networks like Snapchat, Facebook and even Spotify are pushing their own code technology onto users. For instance, scan a Facebook Messenger Code and a handy bot or customer service agent automatically pops up on your phone. Considering that QR codes are still one of the easiest ways to bridge the real world and the online one, don’t be surprised if you start seeing them making a comeback in 2018 – especially now that 700 million iPhone users have a scanner in their pockets. You may want to consider using them again in your marketing materials.