Here's how QR in parking works.

The post-pandemic world aims to be as contactless as possible, which is exactly why the world of mobility will get used to seeing a lot of QR in parking.

In a survey by American Express, 58% of consumers said they are likely to use contactless payments now more than ever. This shift in consumer behavior has encouraged many industries to recognize the potential of QR codes to provide safer, touchless retail experiences.

What exactly is a QR code?

A QR (Quick Response) code is essentially a matrix barcode. It is scanned with an imaging device to receive information. These days, the imaging device is your average smartphone.

The black squares represent encoded data that redirects to a specific URL. It can also start a payment or check-in process instantly.

QRs work the same way barcodes do. However, unlike a standard bar code, which can record 20 characters at a time, a QR code can hold 7000+ characters (3 KB worth of data).

The convenience and versatility offered by QR codes have made them quite popular. In a 2020 study, 84% of respondents said that they had scanned a QR code at some point. Moreover, 32% of them had scanned one in the previous week.

Let’s take a look at why QR codes have become indispensable to both consumers and businesses.

QRs can store all kinds of data

QR codes are quite versatile in terms of what they can hold.

QR codes can redirect the user to any link. This could be images, websites, videos, online forms, or any URL that can fit into 3KB. Marketers and business owners can broaden their horizons in terms of what they want to broadcast to their audience.

QRs are easy to customize

QR codes are easy to generate. Most browsers provide options to turn any webpage’s URL into a QR code. Moreover, QR code designs can be tailor-made to fit brand guidelines. The only limitation is the designer’s creativity.

QRs last forever

QR codes do not expire.

They could become inactive if we remove the page/content that it holds. But you can pretty much use the same QR code for years. They are low-maintenance, making it a great permanent installation for store-owners (although you may want to stick them somewhere safe from rain or snow).

Despite all these beneifts, QR didn’t take off for a long time because users did not want to download a scanning app on their phones. Today, most smartphones have in-built QR scanners, which has helped popularize and normalize QRs.

QR in Parking

Parking has greatly benefitted from QR technology.

Parkers can now pay for parking just by scanning a QR code at the parking lot. This enables ticketless, cashless and contactless payment, creating a hands-on parking experience.

It is also the fastest way to set up touchless parking payment. Operators can go live by just sticking the QR code somewhere in their parker’s line of vision.

Once a parker scans the QR code at entry, they are usually redirected to a web portal through which they can start their sessions and pay for parking. Operators can monitor their parking data, configure discounts and tariffs, and access customized reports.

With a solution like GMP QR, operators get additional benefits, like a custom-branded web app for parkers. Apart from this, the solution also provides a centralized admin dashboard through admins can track all the parking transactions, customize tariffs and discounts, and manage partnerships and permits.

What’s Next For QR?

After mobile wallets and online banking services rolled out QR features to facilitate instant transfer of funds, QR has become synonymous with touchless payments. Restaurants use QRs for check-ins and contactless menu cards. Governments across the world use QR codes to enhance their contact-tracing processes during the peaks of the pandemic. In conclusion, now that ‘point and scan’ is ingrained into the minds of consumers, QR codes will be heavily involved in all our daily activities, including parking.