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Have you ever held a package or other piece of mail and noticed an odd little square somewhere on the label? What is that for? Who uses it? What does it do? Well that, dear reader, is a QR code! QR codes can be found just about everywhere! From bill boards to posters and even some pieces of media, in addition to your mail.
In this piece I will go over how QR codes are used in the postage industry, as well as provide answers to frequently asked questions on the subject. So let’s get started!
What are QR codes?
A QR code is an image that has been made to store data. This data can be scanned by a mobile phone or other device in order to access a variety of information and media. This can include web addresses, images, videos, contact information, social media pages, and much much more.
They work not unlike a traditional barcode you may see on a product in the supermarket, but are capable of containing much more data. QR codes are great because they can be placed anywhere that an image can be displayed and can be easily scanned with just about any mobile device to access their contents.
How are QR codes used in the tracking process?
QR codes were actually invented for the purpose of tracking shipments of car parts from Japanese company Denso Wave back in the 90s. While their use has become far more broad, they are still the perfect way to track and manage mail being sent across long distances.
Postal services, like the United States Postal Service (USPS) , use QR codes as part of their QR Label Broker program, which allows consumers and businesses to use QR codes in their daily postage. Postal employees will often carry a special scanning device with them so that they can easily scan codes while on route.
Benefits of QR codes in postage
QR codes can store just about all the information required for a piece of mail, sender, receiver, mailing route, and history, in a way that’s easy to use and understand for both consumers and businesses. Using QR codes on a piece of mail, especially a package, can save you the time and effort of handwriting or printing out a shipping label.
Additionally, QR codes allow for up to date tracking and routing details, so that both the sender and receiver can know exactly what the status of their package is. QR codes are also easy to make and print out, with USPS providing the services necessary in just about all of their post offices.
FAQ
Q: What services allow for QR tracking on mail?
A: Most national postal services, like USPS, as well as private shipping companies like UPS and Fedex, provide tracking information via QR code.
Q: Do I need to pay extra for QR tracking?
A: No. In most cases, QR tracking comes standard with shipping.
Q: What information can I find by scanning a QR code on a piece of mail?
A: QR codes on mail can tell you who sent it, where it was sent from, and the route it took to get to you.
Q: What devices can scan a postage QR code?
A: Mail carriers will typically carry a special device that scans QR codes to give them the information they need, but it is possible to scan a code with your mobile phone.
Conclusion
QR codes are multiuse and easy to understand. This is why so many industries, like the shipping and postal industry, have moved to relying on these codes for much of their essential operations. QR codes allow for easy access to information and media at a moment's notice, which is especially helpful for mail and packages.
You can easily create your own QR codes for whatever you need for free with QR Code Developer. Get started now and see just how easy it is!