QR Code Usage Among European Smartphone Owners Doubles Over Past Year

Published on: 19th Sep 2012

comScore has published an overview of mobile commerce and QR code usage across the five leading European markets (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) using data from the comScore MobiLens service.

­The study showed that European smartphone users scanning QR codes via their devices grew by 96 percent in the past year to 17.4 million users for the three month average period ending July 2012.

Nearly 3 in every 4 QR code scans resulted in users receiving product information, making this the most popular type of result across Europe. Germany ranked first for usage of QR codes with 18.6 percent of smartphone users making use of the service, several percentage points higher than its European counterparts.

"Consumer usage of QR codes offers a new and exciting opportunity for marketers to help move consumers further down the purchase funnel," said Hesham Al-Jehani, European mobile product manager at comScore. "By offering more detailed product information or related content, QR codes bring consumer vital information in their consideration of a particular product or service. With smartphones now in the majority of consumers' pockets, access to the sort of information they might get on their computer when researching a product online can help retailers improve their conversion in-store."

Germany Tops QR Code Market, but Spain the Fastest Growing

The number of European smartphone users scanning QR codes increased by 96 percent in the past year to 17.4 million users in July 2012, representing 14.1 percent of the total smartphone audience. Smartphone users in Spain scanning QR codes increased by 9 percentage points to 16.0 percent, making it not only the fastest growing European market but also the second biggest market in terms of penetration. Germany ranked first by penetration of QR codes with 18.6 percent of the smartphone audience making use of the feature.

3 in 4 QR Code Scans Resulted in Receiving Product Information

Product information was by far the most popular result of a QR code scan, with nearly 3 in 4 scans being directed to this result across all EU5 markets. Over 1 in 4 scans resulted in event information, making it the second most popular result across EU5. 19.4 percent of QR code scanners received coupons or offers, while 13.4 percent received application downloads. 12.1 percent of this audience also received charity/cause information in EU5.

 

Tags: [qr codes]