As part of the LCBO (Liquor Commission Board of Ontario) Classic Cocktails promotion, shelf signage for the brands featured in the campaign feature QR (Quick Response) Codes.
QR codes, sometimes called 2D codes or matrix barcodes have been used throughout the rest of the world enabling users of mobile devices to connect with product sites, contest info, coupons or other additional information.
Unfortunately the experience of using QR codes sometimes falls short of providing a great digital experience for the user. Issues with the sizing and positioning of the code happen frequently with inexperienced developers. Adequate instructions should always be provided for uninitiated users and even if everything does go perfectly to that point sometimes an unfriendly mobile experience awaits the user at the destination. You can read more about QR codes in this post I wrote on the Delvinia Blog.
In this case the system worked flawlessly. I opened my ScanLife iPhone app and held it about 6-8 inches away from the shelf signage. The code was immediately picked up and my browser was directed to the recipe for a Gin Martini made with Tanqueray on the Classic Cocktails mobile web site. At that point I could easily bookmark that with my browser for reference later.
Cheers to the LCBO and their digital team for such a useful application. Now to make myself a Gin Martini.