{"id":19223,"date":"2026-06-02T08:20:56","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T01:20:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/creative.co.th\/19223\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T08:24:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T01:24:09","slug":"qr-code-history-and-business-uses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/creative.co.th\/en\/19223\/","title":{"rendered":"The History of QR Codes: From Factories to Digital Business Tools"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"max-width: 100%;margin: 0 auto;line-height: 1.8;color: #263238\">\n<p>Many people are familiar with scanning QR codes with their phones to pay, view restaurant menus, or register for events, making it seem like this technology has only recently become part of our daily lives. However, QR codes actually originated from a very serious problem in a Japanese car manufacturing plant and were designed to read information faster than traditional barcodes.<\/p>\n<p>This article will take you through the process from... <strong>History of QR Codes<\/strong> This explains how it works in simple terms, and provides practical applications for businesses, ensuring that QR codes don&#039;t become just empty squares that nobody wants to scan.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f6f9fc;padding: 1.5rem;border-radius: 10px;margin: 2rem 0;border-left: 4px solid #2563eb\">\n<h2 style=\"margin-top: 0;color: #16324f\">list of contents<\/h2>\n<ul style=\"margin-bottom: 0;padding-left: 1.25rem\">\n<li><a href=\"#what-is-qr-code\" style=\"color: #1d4ed8;text-decoration: none\">What is a QR code?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#qr-code-history\" style=\"color: #1d4ed8;text-decoration: none\">Where did the history of QR codes begin?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#how-qr-code-works\" style=\"color: #1d4ed8;text-decoration: none\">How do QR codes work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#qr-code-uses\" style=\"color: #1d4ed8;text-decoration: none\">What are some possible uses for QR codes?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#qr-code-checklist\" style=\"color: #1d4ed8;text-decoration: none\">Checklist before using a QR Code.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-qr-code\" style=\"color: #16324f;border-bottom: 2px solid #e5edf5;padding-bottom: 0.5rem;margin-top: 2.5rem\">What is a QR code? Why can it read information so quickly?<\/h2>\n<p>A QR code is a two-dimensional barcode that stores information through dark and light colored squares. The name QR stands for Quick Response. Unlike linear barcodes that primarily read information horizontally, QR codes can store and read data both horizontally and vertically, allowing them to hold more data in a smaller area.<\/p>\n<p>The hidden information could be text, phone numbers, URLs to open web pages, map coordinates, or data that the payment system processes. The key convenience is that users don&#039;t have to type long pieces of information; they simply open the camera, aim, and tap on the designated point.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"qr-code-history\" style=\"color: #16324f;border-bottom: 2px solid #e5edf5;padding-bottom: 0.5rem;margin-top: 2.5rem\">The History of QR Codes: From Automobile Production Lines to Mobile Phone Screens<\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"color: #234b6f;margin-top: 1.75rem\">When traditional barcodes started to become insufficient for factory work.<\/h3>\n<p>Back in the early 1990s, car manufacturers needed to track large numbers of parts. Linear barcodes did speed up the process, but storage space was limited. Sometimes multiple barcodes had to be attached to a single part, and scanning them one by one created bottlenecks on the production line.<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 2rem 0;text-align: center\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/creative.co.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/qr-code-industrial-origin.webp\" alt=\"\u0e1b\u0e23\u0e30\u0e27\u0e31\u0e15\u0e34 QR Code \u0e08\u0e32\u0e01\u0e1a\u0e32\u0e23\u0e4c\u0e42\u0e04\u0e49\u0e14\u0e43\u0e19\u0e2a\u0e32\u0e22\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e1c\u0e25\u0e34\u0e15\u0e0a\u0e34\u0e49\u0e19\u0e2a\u0e48\u0e27\u0e19\u0e23\u0e16\u0e22\u0e19\u0e15\u0e4c\" style=\"max-width: 100%;height: auto;border-radius: 12px\">\n    <\/div>\n<h3 style=\"color: #234b6f;margin-top: 1.75rem\">1994 and the Quick Response concept.<\/h3>\n<p>In 1994, the DENSO WAVE development team, led by Masahiro Hara, created QR codes to solve this problem. The name Quick Response clearly reflects its goal: to make the system read codes quickly and from multiple directions, suitable for environments where workpieces are constantly moving past the scanning point.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"color: #315f83;margin-top: 1.5rem\">The turning point wasn&#039;t solely at the factory.<\/h4>\n<p>As the specifications of QR codes became open for other businesses to use, the technology gradually moved out of the production line into logistics, packaging, advertising, and consumer services. The arrival of smartphones with integrated cameras and internet access made scanning a more commonplace behavior.<\/p>\n<h5 style=\"color: #3c6f91;margin-top: 1.25rem\">A small note you should know.<\/h5>\n<p>The term QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE, but the technology is widely used and standardized, so it can be found in a variety of systems and services today.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-qr-code-works\" style=\"color: #16324f;border-bottom: 2px solid #e5edf5;padding-bottom: 0.5rem;margin-top: 2.5rem\">How do QR codes work? (Without going into deep programming details.)<\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"color: #234b6f;margin-top: 1.75rem\">The three large squares in the corners help the camera quickly pinpoint the location.<\/h3>\n<p>When you look at a QR code, you&#039;ll see a prominent rectangular frame in three corners. This format helps the reader quickly determine the position, direction, and angle of the code. Even if the user holds the phone at a slight angle, the system can still read it; the camera doesn&#039;t need to be perfectly aligned like when scanning a document.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #234b6f;margin-top: 1.75rem\">The data and the error correction system work together.<\/h3>\n<p>The small squares within the code contain both data storage and verification components. Therefore, a QR code can still be read even if the surface has minor scratches or some areas are obscured. However, this doesn&#039;t mean you can arbitrarily place a logo over the center of an image or crop the edges, as designs that excessively disrupt the structure will still fail to scan.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"color: #315f83;margin-top: 1.5rem\">A single code can lead to multiple destinations.<\/h4>\n<p>The most common destination is a website URL, but it can also be used to save contact information, open maps, connect to Wi-Fi, or submit data to specific systems. What users see is only the appearance of the code; the actual experience after scanning depends entirely on the webpage and the back-end system.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"qr-code-uses\" style=\"color: #16324f;border-bottom: 2px solid #e5edf5;padding-bottom: 0.5rem;margin-top: 2.5rem\">What are some possible uses for QR codes?<\/h2>\n<div style=\"margin: 2rem 0;text-align: center\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/creative.co.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/qr-code-business-uses.webp\" alt=\"\u0e15\u0e31\u0e27\u0e2d\u0e22\u0e48\u0e32\u0e07\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e19\u0e33 QR Code \u0e44\u0e1b\u0e43\u0e0a\u0e49\u0e01\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e40\u0e21\u0e19\u0e39 \u0e0a\u0e33\u0e23\u0e30\u0e40\u0e07\u0e34\u0e19 \u0e2a\u0e34\u0e19\u0e04\u0e49\u0e32 \u0e2d\u0e35\u0e40\u0e27\u0e19\u0e15\u0e4c \u0e41\u0e25\u0e30\u0e40\u0e27\u0e47\u0e1a\u0e44\u0e0b\u0e15\u0e4c\" style=\"max-width: 100%;height: auto;border-radius: 12px\">\n    <\/div>\n<h3 style=\"color: #234b6f;margin-top: 1.75rem\">1. Open a website page or landing page from offline media.<\/h3>\n<p>Posters, brochures, business cards, shop signs, or packaging have limited space. Placing a QR code helps connect tangible media to a website that provides more detailed information. However, the resulting webpage should load quickly and be mobile-friendly. If you&#039;re designing a page for people to easily scan and proceed, the concept of... <a href=\"https:\/\/creative.co.th\/en\/13825\/\" style=\"color: #1d4ed8;text-decoration: underline;font-weight: bold\">Website UX\/UI Design<\/a> It has a significant impact on click rates and decision-making, no less than the QR code itself.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #234b6f;margin-top: 1.75rem\">2. Accept payments both in-store and online.<\/h3>\n<p>The most common image seen in Thailand is a QR code for receiving payments. Customers scan it, verify the recipient&#039;s name and the amount, and then confirm the transaction. For shops with websites or order systems, choosing... <a href=\"https:\/\/creative.co.th\/en\/18802\/\" style=\"color: #1d4ed8;text-decoration: underline;font-weight: bold\">Payment Gateway Thailand<\/a> A proper system will help to streamline payment, order tracking, and order management.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #234b6f;margin-top: 1.75rem\">3. Display the menu, product details, and after-sales manual.<\/h3>\n<p>Restaurants can use QR codes to open menus without having to retype them every time. Brands can place codes on boxes to lead to instructions, demonstration videos, warranty information, or lot details. This reduces space on packaging and allows online content to be updated as needed.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #234b6f;margin-top: 1.75rem\">4. Connect the storefront to the e-commerce system.<\/h3>\n<p>Retail businesses can attach QR codes to products so customers can check other colors, sizes in stock, reviews, or order home delivery if the item is out of stock in the store. The system works better when integrated with a website. <a href=\"https:\/\/creative.co.th\/en\/e-commerce\/\" style=\"color: #1d4ed8;text-decoration: underline;font-weight: bold\">E-Commerce<\/a> The products are categorized and the ordering process is clearly explained.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #234b6f;margin-top: 1.75rem\">5. Register, check in, and use this as your event pass.<\/h3>\n<p>Seminars, exhibitions, hotels, and clinics can send QR codes to participants in advance. Upon arrival at the event, they can scan the code to quickly verify their identity or register, reducing duplicate data entry and allowing staff to systematically monitor participant numbers.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #234b6f;margin-top: 1.75rem\">6. Marketing campaign results can be measured more accurately.<\/h3>\n<p>By using different QR codes for posters at each branch, flyers for each event, or packaging for each product line, the marketing team can see which media are generating actual traffic and engagement. This data helps in making better budget decisions for future campaigns than relying on guesswork.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"qr-code-checklist\" style=\"color: #16324f;border-bottom: 2px solid #e5edf5;padding-bottom: 0.5rem;margin-top: 2.5rem\">Checklist before using a QR Code.<\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"color: #234b6f;margin-top: 1.75rem\">Clearly state what the scan will yield.<\/h3>\n<p>A standalone QR code without any description can make people hesitate. It should have a short accompanying message, such as &quot;Scan to view the menu,&quot; &quot;Scan to redeem a discount,&quot; or &quot;Scan to pay.&quot; Users will know that picking up their phone is worth their time.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #234b6f;margin-top: 1.75rem\">Tested under real-world distances and lighting conditions.<\/h3>\n<p>Before printing in large quantities, test scans with several different phone models, in varying lighting conditions and from angles where users would actually stand. Remember to check that the destination links are correct, the webpage is not corrupted, and important buttons are easy to press on the mobile screen.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"color: #315f83;margin-top: 1.5rem\">Leave enough space around the code.<\/h4>\n<p>The blank border around the QR code, or quiet zone, helps the camera easily separate the code from the background. Avoid placing text, graphics, or decorative frames too close together, and maintain a clear contrast between the code and the background.<\/p>\n<h5 style=\"color: #3c6f91;margin-top: 1.25rem\">When should you use dynamic QR codes?<\/h5>\n<p>If your campaign might change the URL later, or you want to measure the number of scans, using a dynamic QR code is more flexible because you can change the destination without having to reprint signs. However, you should choose a reliable service provider and check the terms and conditions before using it long-term.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #16324f;border-bottom: 2px solid #e5edf5;padding-bottom: 0.5rem;margin-top: 2.5rem\">In summary: A good QR code must consider the process beyond the scanning point.<\/h2>\n<p>The history of QR codes began with the need to read information quickly in the production line before ending up on dining tables, storefronts, packaging, and mobile phone screens. This technology is also very useful because it helps to bridge the gap between customer attention and the information or service that businesses want to offer.<\/p>\n<p>However, QR codes don&#039;t solve everything on their own. It&#039;s crucial that the scanned experience is clear, loads quickly, is easy to use, and truly meets the user&#039;s needs at that moment. When both the scanning point and the post-scan experience are designed to go hand-in-hand, a single small QR code can significantly streamline business communication.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background: linear-gradient(135deg, #f3f7fb 0%, #e8f0f8 100%);padding: 2rem;border-radius: 12px;margin-top: 3rem;text-align: center;border: 1px solid #d9e6f2\">\n<h3 style=\"color: #16324f;margin-top: 0\">Want to transform a small scanning point into a truly engaging customer experience?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"color: #3b5368;margin-bottom: 1.5rem\">The Creative team helps structure the website, landing pages, and online systems to suit the customer journey, from pre-scanning to the contact or purchase stage.<\/p>\n<p>        <a href=\"https:\/\/creative.co.th\/en\/contact-us\/\" style=\"display: inline-block;background-color: #1d4ed8;color: #ffffff;padding: 0.75rem 1.5rem;text-decoration: none;border-radius: 6px;font-weight: bold\">Talk to the Creative team.<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>QR codes didn&#039;t start with payments, but originated from a problem in the Japanese car manufacturing industry. Let&#039;s explore the journey of this small technology and ideas for using it in business beyond simply placing it for people to scan.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":19220,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"\u0e1b\u0e23\u0e30\u0e27\u0e31\u0e15\u0e34 QR Code: \u0e08\u0e32\u0e01\u0e42\u0e23\u0e07\u0e07\u0e32\u0e19\u0e2a\u0e39\u0e48\u0e40\u0e04\u0e23\u0e37\u0e48\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e21\u0e37\u0e2d\u0e18\u0e38\u0e23\u0e01\u0e34\u0e08\u0e22\u0e38\u0e04\u0e14\u0e34\u0e08\u0e34\u0e17\u0e31\u0e25","_seopress_titles_desc":"\u0e23\u0e39\u0e49\u0e08\u0e31\u0e01\u0e1b\u0e23\u0e30\u0e27\u0e31\u0e15\u0e34 QR Code \u0e15\u0e31\u0e49\u0e07\u0e41\u0e15\u0e48\u0e08\u0e38\u0e14\u0e40\u0e23\u0e34\u0e48\u0e21\u0e15\u0e49\u0e19\u0e43\u0e19\u0e42\u0e23\u0e07\u0e07\u0e32\u0e19\u0e0d\u0e35\u0e48\u0e1b\u0e38\u0e48\u0e19 \u0e2b\u0e25\u0e31\u0e01\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e17\u0e33\u0e07\u0e32\u0e19 \u0e44\u0e1b\u0e08\u0e19\u0e16\u0e36\u0e07\u0e44\u0e2d\u0e40\u0e14\u0e35\u0e22\u0e19\u0e33 QR Code \u0e44\u0e1b\u0e43\u0e0a\u0e49\u0e01\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e18\u0e38\u0e23\u0e01\u0e34\u0e08 \u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e15\u0e25\u0e32\u0e14 \u0e41\u0e25\u0e30\u0e1a\u0e23\u0e34\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e2d\u0e2d\u0e19\u0e44\u0e25\u0e19\u0e4c","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"\u0e1b\u0e23\u0e30\u0e27\u0e31\u0e15\u0e34 QR Code,QR Code,\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e43\u0e0a\u0e49\u0e07\u0e32\u0e19 QR Code,QR Payment,QR Code \u0e18\u0e38\u0e23\u0e01\u0e34\u0e08","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[67,564,566,311,565,563],"class_list":["post-19223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-e-commerce","tag-qr-code","tag-qr-payment","tag-311","tag--qr-code"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/creative.co.th\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/creative.co.th\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/creative.co.th\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creative.co.th\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19223"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/creative.co.th\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19223\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creative.co.th\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19220"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/creative.co.th\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creative.co.th\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creative.co.th\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}