According to a report by qrcodepress.com, a new survey shows that 71% of Americans now consider QR codes useful — a dramatic reversal from 2016, when nearly zero respondents rated them as such. The shift is attributed largely to the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated adoption of contactless interactions in restaurants, retail, and public venues.
QR codes, once dismissed as a failed marketing gimmick, have become a standard tool for digital menus, mobile payments, and event check-ins. The survey highlights that younger demographics, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, are the most comfortable scanning codes, with usage rates above 80% in those age groups. Retailers and manufacturers have also integrated QR codes into product packaging for traceability and promotional content.
The resurgence of QR codes reflects a broader industry shift toward 2D barcodes as a successor to traditional 1D UPCs in retail and supply chain. Standards bodies like GS1 are promoting the GS1 Digital Link, which embeds product information in QR codes and can be read by smartphones. While the U.S. adoption has surged, the Philippines and other markets are also seeing increased use in payment systems and logistics, signaling a global transition to scannable, data-rich identifiers.