Still Collecting Business Cards? Introducing QR Codes

One of the huge hassles of attending conferences is returning home with a big pile of business cards. While there are solutions that will scan those into your contact database of choice – how many of us really take the time to do that?  Instead if you’re like most most people me the cards sit on your desk until you throw them out (hey they’re probably old by now) shortly before the next conference.

Here’s a great way you can streamline the process of trading contact information at conferences such as Sage Summit.

Create your contact information in a special bar code format called a QR code (short for Quick Response Code). There are a number of online sites that allow you to do this for free – including the ZXing project.

Print that bar code on your business card. When another user with a smartphone uses special reader software (commonly available for free in online app stores – search for QR Reader) they scan your QR Code and instantly view and  add your address (or web site) to their contact list.

These bar codes became popular initially for tracking parts during car manufacturing. Their popularity has spread because they can be scanned quickly and have the ability to hold more than one line of data.

Then when you use your smartphone to scan the code it automatically expands the information into name, address format so you can quickly add it to your phone address book.

Most people synchronize contact data on their smartphone  to their office CRM or Outlook systems –  so theoretically you’ll also be saving a copy of those contacts in your main contact database and eliminating re-keying (or throwing out) all those business cards.

The free software that I use on my Android phone is Bar Code Scanner. On iPhone you can choose from many including Red Laser.

Already have a bar code scanner on your smartphone?

Try this out and add Wayne Schulz’s contact info: