Although I had not been introduced to them until this class, QR codes are becoming more and more popular in the U.S. I did some research on them, and found they are not just a catchy way to lure consumers to a website, but they are a new technology that is changing the way business is performed.
Used in Japan since 1994, these codes are utilized in Japan’s manufacturing, passports, perishable food markets and even on bodies in morgues! The U.S. is sure to follow, and with these codes placing even more information at consumers’ fingertips, they are certain to change the U.S. marketplace over time.
One industry that I expect to change is the farming industry—particularly how fresh produce is marketed in stores. At the present time, a Chiquita sticker adorns a banana here or there, but in general, consumers do not know where the produce was grown, when it was harvested, how it was grown, etc. QR codes could change all that. Local farmers would do well to learn about QR codes now, so they can use coded stickers to advertise that the produce was harvested that morning, just down the street, and that it includes the vitamins and minerals shoppers desire.
QR codes can certainly change the U.S. marketplace, making it more competitive than ever. The implications of these codes are definitely something to consider during SWOT analyses—not just for farmers, but for any industry that could be impacted.
Diane Braselton
MSMK 3
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