QR codes have made their way to Crow Wing County in Minnesota, where they are being used on local hiking trails. The codes are being used by county officials who are looking for feedback from hikers as well as others throughout the area. County officials believe that many residents will find the codes useful as a large portion of them own smart phones and other mobile devices. Thus far, county administrator Tim Houle claims that the feedback regarding the codes has been positive.
The codes can be found at various hiking trails and outdoor locations throughout the county. When the codes are scanned with a smart phone or mobile device, residents will be able to fill out a simple survey. The survey will be used to gauge the satisfaction of residence regarding a variety of issues. Residents will also be able to submit their feedback about ongoing projects in the county, such as road construction. Any feedback given will help county officials make adjustments to better serve the community.
QR codes are quite popular in marketing, but have recently begun seeing use beyond that industry. For local governments, the codes have been useful in connecting with particular communities. Though many consumers are still unfamiliar with the codes, more are finding them useful once they learn why the codes are being implemented. Administrator Houle believes that this will be the first of many initiatives Crow Wing County launches with the help of QR codes.
