How to Overcome the Negative Impact of Warped QR Codes on User Experience
QR codes have found extensive use across various industries for a wide range of applications. Businesses and organizations have benefited greatly from the adoption of QR codes, leading to enhanced efficiency, reduced errors, and better customer experiences.
However, there are instances where QR codes become warped or distorted. Warped QR codes can become hard to scan, taking a toll on the user experience. For instance, a warped QR code on a product could cause delays during checkout in a retail store and require the staff to enter the information manually.
This blog seeks to explore strategies to mitigate the negative impact of warped QR codes.
Why do QR Codes Get Warped?
Warping is typically caused by poor placement of QR code labels. Pasting the QR code label on a curved surface causes it to warp along the curve, making it difficult to scan. Besides this, QR codes can also get warped due to poor paper quality.
The Challenges of QR Code Warping
Warped QR codes may lead to a variety of challenges for businesses, such as:
1. Lost Sales and Reduced Conversion Rates
QR codes are popularly used in direct sales efforts and promotional campaigns. Failing to scan QR codes due to warping can prevent customers from accessing a promotion or completing a purchase.
2. Customer Frustration
The impact of warped QR codes in sales and promotions reaches beyond missed conversions and lost sales. It can also lead to customer frustration, ruining their overall experience and driving them to your competitors.
3. Data Errors
Failing to scan a warped QR code may require employees to enter data manually, which is vulnerable to human errors.
4. Increased Support and Operational Costs
Customers failing to scan QR codes may turn to customer support, costing time and effort that could be put into helping with other issues (by the support staff). Warped QR codes also add to operational costs by reducing worker productivity.
5. Compromised Data Tracking and Analysis
QR codes are a valuable tool for tracking customer behavior, gathering demographic data, and assessing the success of a campaign. Warped QR codes may result in incomplete or incorrect data collection, skewing the analytics.
How to Prevent QR Codes from Warping?
Below are some pointers that will help you prevent the negative impact of QR codes from warping:
- Maintain Correct Aspect Ratio: At the time of resizing QR codes, make sure the correct aspect ratio is maintained. Stretching them vertically or horizontally can cause them to warp or distort.
- Use High-Quality Printers and Materials: The better the quality of the print, the less likely it is for the QR code to smudge and warp. Consider investing in high-quality printing materials and/or lamination for the QR code labels, especially if you expect them to undergo rough handling and wear.
How to Scan Warped QR Codes?
Scanning warped QR codes is difficult, however, it isn't impossible. All you need is a robust QR code reader SDK. The abilities of a barcode scanner depend largely on its algorithm. The right software can significantly boost the processing capabilities of your scanner, providing various error correction features. It allows you to adjust settings such as focus, lighting, and decoding algorithms to enhance performance for warped QR codes.
For instance, reputable barcode reader SDKs offer a dedicated mode with additional configuration options that resist deformation in case the barcode is gently warped.
Other QR Code Distortion Issues and How to Fix Them
Warping isn’t the only issue that can make QR codes difficult to scan. They can also get distorted due to various factors, ranging from atmospheric conditions to wear and tear. Below are some common QR code distortion problems and how to fix them:
1. Pixelation and Minor Blurring
Oftentimes, QR codes get blurred or pixelated. This typically happens when the generated QR code is of poor quality. Thankfully, this can easily be resolved using a QR code scanner software with image sharpening and contrast-enhancing features.
2. Damaged QR Codes
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