What is a QR Code for inventory management?

A QR Code is a computer-generated "quick response" code that takes users to a specific location on the internet. To use a QR Code, a person can simply scan it using a smartphone, and they'll instantly be sent to the link in question.

QR codes were introduced as an upgrade to UPC barcodes, taking their place in inventory management systems in the 1990s.

With the introduction of QR codes for inventory management, businesses can streamline and automate the process of tracking and managing inventory. Each business QR code may encode details such as product name, serial number, batch number, and other relevant information. Scanning these QR codes with a mobile device or scanner enables quick and accurate updating of inventory records, helping businesses maintain real-time visibility and control over their stock.

Keep QR Code campaigns responsive and relevant.

Broken links, outdated information, mistakes, and typos destroy customer confidence. Dynamic QR Codes let you edit and update content as and when you need to.

How to create QR codes for inventory management: Three simple steps

A custom QR Code can take seconds to create, but it can deliver long-lasting benefits and a brilliant ROI.

2

Add your Details

Add your Details: To create your QR Code, you’ll need a URL or any digital destination you want your QR code to send users to. Each QR Code type requires different information, but you can fill in the fields simply and quickly with QR Code Fusion.

Step 2
3

Customize your Design

Customize your Design: Customize your design by selecting a frame, choosing a color and adding your company logo. This helps to make your QR Code your own and more likely to be scanned.

Step 3

Ensure you double-check your QR Code link. The last thing you want to do is print QR codes that lead to the wrong destinations, especially if you're using them for inventory tracking on lots of products.

6 benefits of QR Code technology for your inventory management system

Simplified operations and seamless access to information with QR Code inventory management

There are lots of reasons to employ a QR Code system to manage inventory in your business. Let's explore the top six benefits of a QR Code inventory software system.

Easy to scan

QR codes are often small, but they can hold lots of information in a 1x1cm square, which makes them versatile and powerful.

QR codes speed up the inventory management process, too, and the simplicity of QR Code scanning helps your business, staff, and ultimately, your customers.

No need for extra equipment

Standard UPC barcodes require additional physical scanners, which isn't the case for QR codes.

All you need is a smartphone, and since most people in the USA have one of these, staff can access whichever links are held in the code instantly.

Store more information

The amount of information a QR Code can hold is vast, which makes them incredibly useful for tracking assets.

With more inventory tracking data available, staff can do their jobs more effectively and you can streamline your organization's inventory management.

Track inventory accurately

When you incorporate QR codes to manage inventory, you can track stock with high levels of accuracy.

Offering detailed information, including specific countries and cities, QR codes can handle multiple parameters and help track inventory at every stage of the supply chain.

Simple integration

Easily incorporate QR codes into your product inventory system by scanning barcodes upon arrival.

Print and attach QR codes using your inventory system for effortless product identification and shipping.

Reduced mistakes

Barcode scanners are limited in the information they can store when compared to QR Code technology.

Not only this, but they’re also more susceptible to physical damage that could render the link unscannable, which isn't the case for QR codes.

Easily create Dynamic QR codes for your business

Get instant access to our custom branding, editing and evaluation features today!

How to use QR codes for inventory management

Stacked inventory in factory

Be Dynamic with your QR codes

Dynamic QR Codes are purpose-built for inventory tracking and mass product inventory management. As opposed to barcodes that can only hold limited characters due to their horizontal shape, Dynamic Codes can store more complex information. This means that you can make tracking assets simple, efficient, and immediate.

Clothing pacakged with mobile phone being held

Provide product information

QR Code labels are a great way to streamline your inventory management and provide product information like weight, dimensions, batch number, manufacture/expiration date, and more. This can be useful for your staff in your warehouse and others in your supply chain.


QR codes can also help you track your products once they’ve left your premises. Using our QR Code Generator, you can add the location of stock in your supply chain. This helps you view products across multiple locations in the journey from your warehouse to your customers.

Equipment maintenance can also be streamlined with QR codes, as malfunctions, service requests, and any issues can be reported instantly and fixed. This saves you repair costs down the line by preventing them, which also reduces disruption for your business.

Which industries can benefit from inventory management QR codes?

If you create products for sale en-masse, then the chances are, your business could benefit from QR codes for asset tracking. They help streamline your supply chain and provide additional information compared to barcode alternatives, and the simplicity of scanning QR codes makes everything much smoother. However, while QR codes can be used effectively by lots of different businesses, certain industries are more likely to benefit, such as:

How to use a QR code for inventory management

Let's explore how you could use your generated inventory management QR code:

Plain text QR Code

Plaintext QR Code

Share short, simple messages using words, numbers, emojis, and special characters with a Plain Text to QR Code. By doing so, you can convey simple, but important information quickly in a super digestible format.

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PDF QR Code

PDF QR Code

PDF QR Codes allow you to share ‘how to’ instructional guides or manuals for commercial products, property brochures, magazines, ebooks and catalogs.

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URL QR Code

URL QR Code

A URL QR Code allows you to easily share various online content like campaign landing pages, business websites, videos, contact forms and payment pages. When scanned, it instantly opens the linked URL in the device's web browser, eliminating the need for manual typing.

Read more

Examples of QR code inventory management across different industries

Here are a few examples of how a QR code for inventory management can be applied to everyday business operations.

QR Codes for manufacturing

Manufacturing

Complex by nature, manufacturing companies can keep track of their inventory simply and effectively thanks to QR Code technology.

QR Codes for retail

Retail

This can be clothing, electronics, sports goods, and anything in between. Essentially, if you have lots of products coming in and out of your business, QR codes could help.

QR Codes for food outlets

Food

Whether you're a wholesaler or food and beverage producer, custom QR codes can streamline your business operations and inventory management.

QR Codes for ecommerce

eCommerce

Modern eCommerce businesses can massively benefit from QR Code inventory management. Even for those who employ drop-shipping or use third-party suppliers and manufacturers, keeping track of your stock levels and assets is fundamental, and QR codes can simplify this process for you compared to traditional methods.

Best practice guide for inventory management QR Codes

Inventory management is incredibly important for businesses in various industries. While a QR Code can help streamline the process, you should follow these best practice tips:



Make sure your QR Code is scannable

QR codes are durable and even the smallest of codes can be scanned by most mobile devices. However, making QR codes easy to scan is still important, and you should be conscious of the colors you choose when you print QR codes onto product packaging.

Make sure your QR Code is scannable

Include a CTA

To help ensure staff members know when to scan, you can include a CTA on your QR Code. This can tell them at which stage to scan the code and makes sure the inventory transaction runs as smoothly as possible, without human error.

Include a CTA

Consider placement

A crucial aspect of QR Code generation and printing is placement on the product packaging. QR codes that can't be seen can't be scanned, and even though you can store lots of data on a code the size of a stamp, you need to make them noticeable on your packaging.

Consider placement

Test before printing your QR codes

If you run a test of your QR codes before you print them, you're likely to flag any errors before it's too late. Catching these issues early means no disruption to your QR Code system, and your QR inventory software won't be affected as the problem can be caught before the code is released

Test before printing your QR codes

FAQs about QR Code inventory management

Yes. QR codes allow you to access the location of products, whether they're in your warehouse or on their way to your customer. This is a major benefit of QR inventory techniques and keeping track of asset records using QR Code technology.

An inventory management system can be revolutionized by introducing QR Code software. Helping with everything from inventory tracking to inventory transactions, you can add multiple pieces of information to one Dynamic QR Code, and achieve accurate inventory tracking in minutes. With a Dynamic QR Code, you can also update your link as many times as you like, which helps the inventory tracking process substantially.

A QR Code can hold lots of data, including tracking information about a specific product. A QR Code solution for product tracking is a useful tool for keeping tabs on a product in real time, and offers more specific data as it's attached to the product physically.

QR codes are powerful, but extremely simple to use. All customers or staff need is a smartphone and they can scan a code that's linked to your QR inventory software. Our QR Code API makes sure all codes link to your desired destination, and with an upgraded business account, you can add multiple links for your QR codes, too.

QR Code Generators do what they say on the tin - they generate QR codes for businesses. In fact, you can generate a QR Code in minutes with a free QR Code Fusion account and by selecting the kind of code you'd like to create.

For businesses who'd like additional data regarding their QR codes, and this will apply to most inventory management purposes, you'll probably want to upgrade your account and receive a range of analytics surrounding your code. This can include all kinds of metrics such as volume, geolocation, device details used to scan your code, and more.

Boost efficiency and improve your operations with QR Code inventory management

QR inventory technology means you can increase data collection, store valuable information, and most importantly, streamline and maximize your business operations.

Improve your current product inventory systems with QR codes for your products.