34 Epic QR Code Examples from Brands Killing it!

If there were a drag race between QR Code, email marketing, SEO, and other mobile marketing heavyweights, QR Codes would see them in the rearview mirror! That’s what the compound annual growth rates (CAGR) of the different mobile marketing channels suggest. 

For context, email marketing is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 18.8% between 2022 and 2030. Mobile apps are predicted to grow at a CAGR of 13.5% in the same period. Social media marketing takes 18.60% of the optimism share, and SEO takes 17.6%. On an absolute other dimension, QR Codes are predicted to grow at a CAGR of 31.6%, almost DOUBLE the rest. 

Intrigued to see the incredible ways QR Codes are being used? Here are some of the most inspiring ones we have come across.

Our pick of the 15 best QR Code Campaigns

1. Paris 2024 Olympics’ QR Code-based “Game Pass”

🤩What we liked: Highly secure, effective, yet easy-to-implement crowd management

💡Areas of improvement: Nothing

Image via Pediavenir

The Olympic Committee deployed a QR Code-based pass system to ensure a smooth flow of residents and tourists in and out of the dedicated zones within the French capital. People who wish to access any of the two zones—red and grey—must register online to obtain a QR Code called the “Game Pass” or “Pass Jeux” that must be presented at entry points. 

2. Adidas’s Geo-Location based “Billboard Run” Campaign

🤩What we liked: perfect integration between the product (running shoes) and the ideal customer profile (runners) and using QR Codes to gamify and incentivize

💡Areas of improvement: Nothing. It’s a brilliant execution 

Adidas placed Billboard Run Kiosks with a QR Code across certain streets in Stockholm, Sweden, for runners. The kiosk was tied to an app where the runners could scan it and run towards the finish line kiosk, where they could then scan the QR Code displayed there.

adidas – The Billboard Run

The top runners were listed on this digital kiosk, and some would win Adidas gear. This digital OOH campaign brought together runners—Adidas’ target audience— from across the city for their new line of running shoes. 

3. Virgin O2’s “Christmas sim card” campaign

🤩What we liked: purpose-driven QR Code usage; custom QR Code (snowflake) that compliments the campaign theme (Christmas)

💡Areas of improvement: The QR Code size could have been larger to make scanning easier and quicker 

Image via Virgin O2 

Virgin O2, in partnership with the Good Things Foundation, launched a purpose-based QR Code campaign to distribute free internet to “data-poor” people and help them stay connected during Christmas. The goal was to reach the maximum number of beneficiaries who could scan the QR Code to access a zero-rated site and redeem free internet.   

4. LinkedIn’s ex-offender rehabilitation programme 

🤩What we liked: Instant access to some ex-offenders’ social profiles via QR Codes will encourage employers to look past their criminal records

💡Areas of improvement: Nothing

Image via LinkedIn

LinkedIn launched a program to reduce the cultural stigma associated with ex-offenders and help them find employment with skill-based training. The project culminated in a designer outfits store founded by four young ex-offenders. A wall in the store is dedicated to their portraits with QR Codes that lead to their LinkedIn profile. 

5. Bacardi’s “Music Merch” campaign

🤩What we liked: Cool incentive for both the QR Code promoter and people who scan

💡Areas of improvement: QR Code is almost invisible from a certain angle

Image via Bacardi

Bacardi launched a novel music distribution program with streetwear brand Nahmias and Grammy Award-winning producer Boi-1da. To raise awareness of underrepresented artists, an outfit line featuring QR Codes was launched, leading fashion lovers to albums of less famous artists. As an incentive to the wearers, they will continue to receive loyalty points each time someone scans the QR Code, redeemable for live music concert tickets. 

6. Mr. Apple’s PLU sticker QR Codes on fruits 

🤩What we liked: Super-relevant and useful usage of QR Codes to share information

💡Areas of improvement: Mr. Apple could have infused some brand elements in the QR Codes, such as colors, a CTA, and different patterns 

As a direct-to-consumer brand, New Zealand-based Mr. Apple used QR Codes on PLU stickers to build a direct relationship with every apple buyer in their language. Scanning the QR Code takes users to language-specific resources related to the apples. The company also used QR Codes at their in-store tastings and in-market events to increase participation and share product and brand information to build a loyal user base. 

7. Samsung’s “Scan it. Circle it. Find it” QR Code campaign 

🤩What we liked: Interactivity from print; smooth user experience, augmented reality, web-app-based

💡Areas of improvement: The QR Code could have been colorful to match the rest of the design 

Samsung’s recent print ad promoted support for the “circle to search” feature on the newest Galaxy device. Featured on the front page of an Indian daily, the ad required users to scan the QR Code to trigger a beautiful AR experience (hosted on a web app) that quivers the static front page into life. Try scanning it here to experience it. 

8. Coca-Cola’s “#TakeATasteNow” DOOH campaign 

🤩What we liked: QR Codes triggering AR experience from the real world, freebies

💡Areas of improvement: QR Code could have been more on-brand with colors, cool gradients, and a clearer CTA

Image via FabNews 

In true Coca-Cola fashion, the beverage giant was one of the first major players to experiment with QR Code-based AR ads from digital out-of-home ads (DOOH). The goal was to nudge people to try the zero-sugar product, starting with a virtual bottle and ending with a real one. Large-scale campaigns popped up in prime London locations featuring a QR Code that triggered the 3D anamorphic creative of a Coke bottle. Users got a digital voucher shortly to claim an actual bottle from stores. 

9. Pizza Hut’s “Cheat on their cheeseburgers” campaign

🤩What we liked: Sly yet ingenious strategy where QR Codes enable instant action

💡Areas of improvement: The call-to-action. It could have included a “Scan for free burgers” to make it more effective

Image via Pizza Hut

In an ostentatious show of “enough is enough,” Pizza Hut launched a campaign motivating burger lovers to “cheat” on their usual choices for its newly launched cheeseburgers. Delivery cars featuring QR Codes on the rear windshield waited near burger (psst…Big M and BK) drive-throughs in Miami and Chicago. Foodies could scan the QR Code to try Pizza Hut’s new launch for free until stocks last. 

10. Tripadvisor’s “Sunny Side of Things” interactive campaign

🤩What we liked: Excellent way to bring static art pieces to life; real-life promotion 

💡Areas of improvement: QR Codes placed under the average waist level, making it difficult to scan and notice

Image via PS Wish You Were Here

To promote San Diego tourism, Tripadvisor partnered with the local tourism authority and agency The Shipyard to launch a volley of street art in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Each mural features a QR Code to encourage passersby to scan and launch AR experiences and filters related to the sunny realities of America’s Finest City, San Diego. 

11. Audi’s “Dynamic Destination” CTV campaign

🤩What we liked: User-experience-focused strategy; clear and action-oriented QR Code CTA

💡Areas of improvement: Nothing

Image via KERV

Audi of America launched a CTV/OTT campaign featuring dynamic QR Codes that led to personalized content for regional awareness and local activation. Scanning the QR Codes redirected users to content based on specific triggers such as time of day and location. The goal was to convert more users with hyper-targeted content. Per reports, the campaign exceeded performance goals with a 93% video completion rate and 23K+ additional minutes spent with the brand. 

12. Walmart’s “This page is a bingo ticket” print campaign 

🤩What we liked: The sense of mystery from hiding deals in unmarked QR Codes

💡Areas of improvement: Nothing

Walmart-owned Flipkart, one of India’s leading ecommerce companies, launched a print campaign on a national daily to promote their holiday season sales. They peppered the full front page with QR Codes, which led to hugely discounted deals and a free iPhone on their app. Deals were kept oblivious, with users having to scan a random QR to get lucky. The campaign blew out 24 hours after launch, resulting in 2M+ QR Code scans (exceeding the estimated 1M+ scans) with loads of shares and social visibility. 

13. Maesa’s Certificate of Analysis from packaging 

🤩What we liked: Access to compliance reports from every single product packaging

💡Areas of improvement: Access to value-added resources than CoA certification, possible via multi-link QR Codes

US-based CBD product line Maesa uses QR Codes to make the certificate of analysis accessible to every buyer right from the product packaging—regulatory compliance. A dynamic QR Code leads to the CoA certificate and other product-related information. Maesa also tracks QR Code scans to ascertain where most scans come from or if they come from regions where their product is not sold. 

14. BBQ Guys’ QR-based programmatic direct mails

🤩What we liked: Ingenious way to digitally track real-life engagement data from print

💡Areas of improvement: Nothing. 

BBQ Guys, a US-based outdoor grilling equipment company, used QR Codes in programmatic direct mails to improve customer experience and analyze physical campaign engagement. Instead of sending regular paper-based marketing that generates no active data, BBQ Guys attached campaign-specific QR Codes to each mailer that led recipients to curated landing pages with discounts and offers. The team kept changing the QR Code URLs on mailers to redirect to updated pages—thanks to dynamic QR Codes. 

15. Burger King’s VMA Whopper QR Code

🤩What we liked: Creative use of augmented reality and QR Codes to engage viewers and deliver the live event experience from indoors

💡Areas of improvement: The bright BK background in the QR Code could hinder quick scannability from certain angles, which is critical for TVC ads with short time

During the MTV Video Music Awards, Burger King’s mascot and rapper Lil Yachty took center stage with augmented reality QR Codes popping up during the performance. Due to the pandemic, the VMAs were held at various outdoor locations across New York City and in the homes of the stars. This is where QR Codes enable engagement in a contactless world. Burger King promoted the BK app during the broadcast, encouraging viewers to scan on-screen QR Codes for discounts, such as a free Whopper with a $1 purchase, and enter a sweepstakes for a year of free Whoppers and tickets to the 2021 VMAs.

Legacy Campaigns that pioneered QR Code marketing in 2010s

1. QR Code advertising examples: Taco Bell makes QR Codes edible

Taco Bell has been incorporating QR Codes as part of its promotional campaigns for quite a few years now. When Taco Bell launched its ‘Doritos Locos Tacos’ back in 2012, it placed QR Codes on all Taco holster packages as a way of creating customer engagement.

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Another instant where Taco Bell nailed the usage of QR Codes was when they created QR Codes that looked like a design made out of lemons. Taco Bell placed these innovative QR Codes in their print ads published with US Weekly and People. The campaign was an initiative for the promotion of ‘Taco Bell Cantinas,’ which was the restaurant’s attempt at serving a Gourmet menu.

2. Companies that use QR Codes: Nissan increases mobile engagement with QR Codes

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Nissan launched another interesting QR Code initiative for mobile engagement by placing QR Codes on vehicle window stickers for the entire product line up in 2012. These QR Codes led users to complete product-related information such as the key features, product overview videos, accessories that come along with the vehicle to name a few.

3. General Motors replaces SPID labels with QR Codes

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General Motors, one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers, is no stranger to the benefits of QR Codes. GM decided to add QR Code stickers on its Chevrolet brand of cars. The automotive giant is aiming to increase the demand for its products by increasing customer engagement through QR Codes.

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The manufacturer also decided to replace the Service Parts Identification  (SPID) label on the vehicle parts with QR Codes to serve as a more reliable way of accessing critical information.

4. QR Code link example: L’Oreal engages customers on the go with QR Codes

Another example of brands using QR Codes is when L’Oreal partnered with Glamour and used QR Codes inside taxis to capture customers stuck in traffic. The campaign promoted the range of Lancôme and Yves Saint Laurent product lines by linking QR Code campaigns to videos about how to use the products and redirecting to the store page. The campaign helped L’Oreal increase its app downloads by 80%.

5. QR Code marketing examples: Tesco making virtual stores a reality with QR Codes

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The UK-based retail giant Tesco first created virtual stores in South Korea, as a simple ‘Shop on the Go’ solution for customers with long working hours. This initiative of Tesco proved to be an effective strategy for them to regain the customers they had lost in South Korea as a result of their busy schedules.

The enthusiastic response received to the benefits of these virtual stores led Tesco to launch more virtual stores in the UK as well. Bizreport gives you this kind of insight into how marketing helped businesses grow and thrive.

6. Paypal uses QR Codes to make payments easier

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Paypal revolutionized the way cashless transactions are looked at by adding QR Codes to the equation. The cashless payment systems that help in making purchase quicker and transactions easier is especially attractive to millennials.

7. QR Code examples in ads: Starbucks increases sales with QR Codes

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Starbucks was another restaurant that adopted QR Codes in a variety of forms with the focus of increasing coffee sales. Starbucks incorporated QR Codes in its promotional campaigns like print ads with People magazine and also in outdoor ads in major cities of the US by printing QR Codes on flyers.

Starbucks did not leave any stone unturned in their QR Code initiative by implementing cashless mobile payments for coffee using QR Codes.

8. QR Code on products: Coca Cola uses dynamic QR Codes to engage customers

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The US-based soft drink manufacturer wasn’t one to be left behind in the QR Code campaign initiatives. Coca-Cola brought about a new perspective to QR Codes by embedding dynamic QR Codes in product packaging with new content that delivered unique experiences to customers each time they scanned the QR Codes.

RELATED: Choose the best dynamic QR Code generator to create dynamic QR Codes.

Dynamic QR codes are an innovative take on the regular QR Codes where you can schedule a variety of time-based marketing campaigns and assign it to the same QR Code. Intuitive dashboards like Uniqode for businesses help them select the right dynamic QR Code generator to manage the campaigns end-to-end.

9. QR Code on promotional products: Netflix and Snapchat come together for a QR Code-based promotional campaign

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Netflix came up with an intriguing application of QR Codes by transforming 200 real-world cafes to look like Luke’s Diner from Gilmore Girls as part of a promotional campaign for the show. Snapchat added a branding boost to this campaign by printing snap codes (Snapchat’s version of QR Codes) on the coffee cups of these cafes. The snap codes when scanned would unlock a Gilmore Girls filter on Snapchat.

10. Nike makes customized shoes with QR Codes

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Nike took QR Code marketing to the next level when they used custom QR Codes to create customized shoes for customers. This campaign resulted from Nike’s collaboration with WeChat, the famous messaging app from China. To start with, the customers first had to scan a QR Code to follow Nike. The users then had to click a colorful image of their choice and send it to Nike which would be followed by receiving a response from Nike with their customized shoes that matched the colors in the picture.

Also read: Our guide on how to create and use WeChat QR Codes for your business.

11. QR Codes for check-in example: British Airways makes airport check-ins easier with QR Codes

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British Airways provides an excellent example of how QR Codes can be useful in the travel industry. British Airways helps passengers use their mobiles for quicker check-ins by adding QR Codes to the boarding pass. Airports have open Wi-Fi that could be malicious to your mobile devices. Having a VPN for Android makes sure your device is secure. Also, a secure QR Code generator that complies with SOC-2 compliance ensures your check-in is secure.

Learn more: Create QR Codes for PDFs that can be sent as tickets in emails

12. QR Code retail examples: Diesel’s ‘Scan for Authentication’ initiative with QR Codes

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Diesel brings QR Codes denim. The famous clothing brand added QR Codes in their denim products to help users verify the authenticity of their products. This ‘Scan for Authenticity’ call to action added on the denim along with the QR Codes acts as an authentication tool to verify the product even before they make the purchase.

13. Chili’s uses QR Codes for raising funds and making scannable menus

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Chili’s is an American casual dining restaurant chain that used QR Codes for a variety of applications ranging from making scannable menus to fundraising reasons. The scannable menu with QR Codes helped the restaurant in providing nutritional information to its patrons while the fundraising campaign with QR Codes encouraged people to donate for cancer patients with a scan of their phone. Restaurants can use QR Codes in endless ways – by easily sharing information through interactive online PDFs regarding the ingredients, smart parking via QR Codes, coupon sharing, etc.

14. IKEA introduces faster check-outs with QR Codes

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IKEA makes check-outs for large furniture easier with a QR-based mobile check-out option. For a store like IKEA that sells furniture of different sizes, it is a huge challenge to take the products to the check-out counter and scan them. IKEA came up with a simple QR Code-based solution to this problem by introducing the scan and check-out feature.

15. QR Code branding: Instagram pilots their version of QR Codes

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Instagram nametags are Instagram’s version of QR Codes that help businesses and influencers promote their Instagram profile. Name tags work the same way as any other QR Code by directing users to a specific Instagram profile when scanned.

Create your colorful and customized QR Codes with Uniqode’s online QR Code generator.

16. QR Code menu example: West Egg Cafe uses QR Code menus

In the wake of the pandemic, restaurants are moving to contactless solutions like digital menus instead of physical menus. Since printing disposable menus aren’t cost-effective, restaurants across the globe have moved to use QR Code menus. West Egg Cafe in Atlanta uses Uniqode to power its QR Code menus.

17. Thinks Pink, Snoop Dog’s wine brand, uses products with QR Codes to connect with fans

As a sequel to Snoop Dogg’s 19 Crimes Cali Red Wine, the popular rapper has launched Cali Rosé, the brand’s first Californian Rosé, by leveraging QR Code on the wine bottle in Australia.

The wine collaboration includes an augmented reality experience called ‘Ask the Doggfather’ to give customers a chance to talk to Snoop Dogg directly by scanning the QR Code on the rosé bottle.

Upon scanning the QR Codes on the products, a miniature holographic Snoop Dogg appears ready to offer sage advice and answer questions.

The Snoop Cali Red was the number one selling wine innovation of 2020 in Australia, according to the press release.

18. QR Code advertising: Furphy, an Australian beer company to uncover spectacular stories via digital brand experiences

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Lion-owned beer Furphy gathers Australians’ most unbelievable stories, by encouraging their users to return to their local pubs and share beer via the brand’s ‘Unearthing Unbelievable’ digital experience. The use of QR Codes not only promotes engagement but also serves as a powerful tool for branding your beer, helping Furphy create a unique identity in the competitive market.

Furphy plans to embed branded QR Codes on in-venue posters, point-of-sale communications, and coasters in over 900 participating bars, pubs, and clubs.

The digital experience enables Australians to share their best furphy via video or audio and earn a Furphy in return which can be redeemed at the bar, once available.

Aden Hepburn, CEO at Akcelo, said: “Storytelling is a quintessential part of our culture, and telling tall tales at the pub is almost a national sport. So what better way to celebrate spinning a yarn than recording these furphies to share with the rest of the country as well as using them for ongoing campaigns. Unearthing Unbelievable is an all-new way to find and celebrate the best Aussie furphies.”

19. QR Code marketing ideas: Cygames used drones to form a giant QR Code in the sky in Shanghai

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Cygames, a Japanese game development brand, celebrated the first anniversary of its popular video game ‘Princess Connect Re: Dive’ by displaying a giant QR Code in the sky in Shanghai.

The brand entertained viewers using 1,500 drones to show the game’s characters battling each other. After the show, the drones lined up to form a QR Code in the sky.

The people-watching could scan the QR Code to land on a webpage, learn more about the video game, and download it on their phones.

This marketing campaign attracted the attention of thousands of people, and the images of the QR Code formed by drones went viral across the world.

Interested in using QR Code marketing solutions for your business? Schedule a demo to learn all about Uniqode’s intuitive QR Code marketing platform. Or, check out our complete dynamic QR Code pricing.

• Author Details

Author Details

Chaitra Joshi

Check out other posts by Chaitra on Uniqode! You can also explore the related posts below to help you maximize your ROI.

chaitra.j@mobstac.com