When did you last come across a Quick Response (QR) Code? A few minutes ago? Hours ago? Days ago? QR Codes have become so prevalent that you’re very likely to see at least one during your day.
Why? The simple answer is that they’re convenient and efficient!
While businesses initially used them for inventory tracking, they’ve shown their flexibility in helping with many tasks, including marketing, communication, and payment. Gone are the days when customers needed to carry cash or credit cards everywhere. They can now scan dedicated QR Codes to complete transactions.
Are they a worthwhile investment for modern businesses? Without a doubt! Read on to find out why and how you can leverage them to elevate your payment system.
What are payment QR Codes?
A payment QR Code is a lot like the code you scan to access your favorite restaurant’s menu or to look up product information. The only difference between this type of code and the rest is where it leads you. A payment QR Code encodes payment details, and as such, it directs you to a secure payment landing page where you can seamlessly complete purchases.
Since their development by DENSO WAVE, QR Codes have been a business favorite because of their efficiency. Customers can scan them from any direction, significantly reducing the time it takes to access linked pages.
These days, you can scan them with virtually all mobile phone (Android and iOS) cameras or third-party QR Code scanner apps available in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. You never have to worry about locking anyone out if you set up QR Code payments.
Benefits of using a generator to create QR Codes for payments
Do you have to use a QR Code generator to create QR Codes? Technically, no. You can always generate QR Codes using Javascript, Python, or your preferred coding language. However, this is more of a hassle than necessary, especially since you have the option to use QR Code generators like Bitly.
Using a generator can save you time, minimize errors, help with branding, and provide access to user analytics data, helping you run an efficient payment system. Let’s take a deeper look at why using generators is the best route:
Easy and efficient
If you’re a developer or software engineer (or know one), you probably already know that coding isn’t the easiest activity. It’s challenging and time-consuming, and you can’t be sure you’ll have a functional QR Code at the end of the process.
That’s why many businesses opt for QR Code generators. They eliminate the need for manual coding, saving time and reducing the risk of errors—when you choose a reliable generator, you’ll have a functional payment QR Code in a matter of seconds or minutes.
Customization options
Picture this: You come across two QR Codes claiming to be from your favorite brand, one with the typical white background and black pixels and the other with the brand’s colors and logo. Which one will you scan? The branded one, right?
Why? Because customized QR Codes are more appealing to customers.
QR Code generators like Bitly allow you to personalize your QR Code with logos, colors, and calls to action for better branding. This means your customers never have to second guess whether the payment QR Codes they encounter are really yours.
Error correction
Unfortunately, you can’t always control the conditions your payment QR Codes are exposed to. If you position them somewhere outside or in the open, objects may obscure them, they may get dirty, or the elements may damage them.
Luckily, QR Code generators add error correction data, ensuring your QR Codes scan easily, even if they are slightly damaged. These tools typically offer one of four error correction levels: Low (7%), Medium (15%), Quartile (25%), and High (30%). Choose a generator that uses Level H if you plan to use your code in a high-risk environment, like outdoors, to improve its scannability.
Analytics and tracking
Want to understand customer payment preferences? A QR Code generator like Bitly can help.
When you use Bitly Codes, you get real-time tracking data like the number of scans, their location, and devices used, which can provide insights into customer behavior and QR Code engagement.
If you have multiple locations, the scan-by-location data can highlight which countries or cities your brand is the most popular in, allowing you to make well-informed decisions regarding marketing and resource allocation.
Similarly, through the total scan data, you can determine whether customers adopt your new payment system and take appropriate measures. For instance, if your numbers are low, you could educate your target audience on how to scan QR Codes and guarantee QR Code security to encourage more engagement.
How to use QR Codes for payment solutions
Ready to incorporate QR Codes into your payment systems? Here’s how:
For in-store payment methods
If you have a physical business location—like a restaurant, coffee shop, small store, or boutique—a QR Code payment solution can make a world of difference by streamlining the payment process. This could mean shorter queues and enhanced customer satisfaction.
To leverage QR Codes for payment, print them out or engrave them on signs at checkout. This way, customers who shop in person don’t need to go through their bags looking for money or cards—they can simply scan the code to access your payment link and pay for items.
If you’re skeptical about whether customers will adopt the technology, just look at the numbers—9 out of 10 Americans carry smartphones, and 4 in 10 have gone completely cashless. Therefore, providing this contactless payment solution is a smart move.
For online payment methods
These nifty two-dimensional barcodes aren’t only effective in physical stores. They can also be an excellent alternative to traditional online checkout forms, allowing customers who prefer online shopping to check out more quickly.
How do you leverage QR Codes for online payments? Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:
- Generate a Dynamic QR Code linked to your secure payment portal.
- Display the code on your app, website, shopping cart, or even invoices sent electronically.
- Ask customers to scan the code with their mobile devices (if it’s on another screen) or long-press it if it’s on their smartphone screens (if they’re an iPhone user with a current version of iOS). Doing this will lead them to a secure payment portal where they can enter their payment information to complete payment.
Online QR Code payments are suitable for many types of businesses and situations, including:
- Digital goods or services like software subscriptions or online courses
- E-commerce websites with various products
- Invoice payments for B2B transactions
How Bitly makes generating payment QR Codes simple
Payment service providers have gotten on the QR Code bandwagon. So, you’ll likely come across some who offer QR Code creation. While it may be tempting to use them, there are better solutions that could help you get the most out of your QR Code payment system.
For instance, with Bitly, you stand to enjoy more benefits, like:
- The ability to customize your QR Codes to include your business colors and logo to maintain brand consistency
- The ability to shorten the long URLs often associated with payment portals, making them easier to display and scan within the QR Code
- The ability to track QR Code scans to better understand customer behavior and identify payment preferences so you can optimize your checkout process for better conversions
Compared to payment provider tools, Bitly is a better solution as it provides a central hub for managing payment QR Codes.
How exactly do you generate payment QR Codes on Bitly? Follow these simple steps:
- Log in to your account.
- Select Create new and select QR Code.
- Enter your payment link into the destination field.
- Tap Design your code.
- Customize your code by choosing your preferred style, corners, colors, and logo (available for some paid plans).
- Tap Create your code.
- Download your unique QR Code in JPG, PNG, or SVG formats.
- Print, engrave, or share the QR Code image on your invoices, signs, website, or any other medium customers encounter during checkout.
Generate professional, easy-to-scan QR Codes with Bitly
Payment QR Codes are a must-have in the modern business space because they facilitate easy payments. They can result in shorter lines at your store, elevate the customer experience, and provide insights into customer behavior. For a seamless implementation process, leverage reliable QR Code generators like Bitly.
Thanks to Bitly’s user-friendly interface and wide range of features, you’re guaranteed a simple and straightforward QR Code creation and management process. You can customize your payment QR Codes to align with your brand, replace long URLs with short links to help promote customer trust, and track scan data to identify customers’ payment preferences.
Sign up for Bitly today to elevate your payment methods with reliable, trackable, easy-to-scan custom QR Codes!