Barcode vs. QR Code: What’s the Difference and Which Is Better?

More than 92% of businesses are offering some form of contactless payments. These payment structures for identifying accounts and products are often broken down into barcode vs. QR codes.

When comparing both barcodes and QR codes, what are the differences, and which is better? This short guide will give you all the ins and outs of barcodes and QR codes.

QR Codes or Barcodes?

QR Codes and barcodes are systems that contain a distinct amount of information in a small format. Manufacturers are often requiring to keep track of an inventory. As the order is an important thing to factor in when upkeeping a business.

As such, it is a high priority to attach a tag or system to the items in your inventory. When a customer buys an item, the barcode or QR Code can notify them of their purchase instructions.

This can allow consumers to locate their items and keep track of their orders. It can also notify the company of any bottlenecking issues in the assembly process.

These processes can also help keep track of the entirety of any inventory. It can not only help retain details but aid in the organization of a product line. It can help increase efficiency within the assembly line as well.

The main difference between QR Codes and barcodes is their physicality. The physical dimensions themselves are different between the two. This means each type can hold a limited amount of data in different ways via their stripes.

Regardless of a company’s choice, they should use a tagging system to help implement a structure to the product line. But which system is better?

What Is a Barcode?

A barcode is a visual representation of machine-readable information. It is a one-dimensional structure and horizontally holds a piece of information.

Barcodes are more commonly used in commercial retail and manufacturing facilities. It is also commonly seen in transport and shipping. This is because of the quick and simple method of transporting a massive amount of product.

Barcodes have a twelve-digit UPC or universal product code printed on the label of a package or product. The first three digits identify the country code. Companies pay a fee to acquire the rights to a specific manufacturing code.

They acquire the rights to this unique manufacturer identification number. This number can be any number of digits except the first consecutive twelve digits.

Then, after applying the company code, there is the application of the product code. The UPC assigns a number to each model of a product or packaging aside from the main product.

The last digit in the barcode is a check digit. The value of the check digit must match a number which is obtained by running the other numbers. These numbers go through a separating algorithm.

What Is a QR Code?

A QR code or Quick Response code is another type of barcode. The main difference is that QR Codes are two-dimensional. This means that the barcode can hold information both on the horizontal and vertical planes.

This means that QR codes can hold more information than barcodes. QR Codes have the unique ability to be read from any direction. They also possess an error margin of about 7%-30%.

This can mean that if the product code is dirty or damaged, it can still have a successful chance of being read when scanned. You can also alter a QR Code to implement a logo. It can also include a keyword or a picture as well.

QR Codes include a thing called position markers. These position markers define the dimension of the code. Alignment markers are also implemented to include alignment reference points.

The format of the markers identifies the type of information it holds. The small shapes hold timing patterns as well to identify rows and columns.

The version number also aids in defining the QR code version number. The small pattern within is the wrist or the data it tracks.

The inventory barcode scanner app can help you define the types of QR codes and barcodes. It can also you understand how the inventory barcode scanner works.

Pros and Cons of QR Codes

A QR Code can help reel in new customers as it is a new way to approach marketing. These QR Codes are often implemented into software or apps such as Venmo for easy access.

This can allow quick purchases for a newer generation. If you are running an independent business and want accessibility for newer customers a QR code will help ease of access for these consumers.

They are versatile and extremely fast at scanning. The fault tolerance can also help increase business efficiency.

But, the disadvantage can come in how it limits the audience. QR codes can oftentimes require a smartphone device with QR capabilities. At the moment, there are a limited amount of scanners that can scan these codes.

Pros and Cons of Barcodes

Barcodes are great for mass-producing products. These are more common in warehouses that need to hold a lot of physical packaging. Applying a QR Code to each warehouse package would be a far more complicated process.

The barcode is a more efficient method of dolling these massive products out to different locations. Shipping businesses implement the use of barcodes to fast track the shipment process.

But, it is a more primitive form of pushing these goods. Therefore, it is more limited in its data usage. So you would only be able to identify the product and its location.