QR codes have been around for decades now. They were first developed in the mid-80’s by Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota, to keep track of inventory. Smart phones were non-existent in that era, so usefulness of the codes was limited. As smart phones and other mobile devices rose to prominence, the codes became a popular tool for marketers to connect with consumers. In Japan, the codes are now used extensively for just about everything. Marketers around the world agree that QR codes are the next step in mobile advertising. They provide instant access to videos, websites, maps and other information that can be used to engage consumers. Their popularity has been increasing in the western world over the past year, and marketers in the U.S. are beginning to use the … Read entire article »