Microsoft Tag Adding Support for QR Codes and NFC
To help simplify the growing fragmentation currently taking place in the barcode/reader market, today Microsoft Tag is providing support for the two commonly used 2D barcode formats - Tag and QR Codes, and NFC capabilities.
Each of the recognition technologies can be used alone or paired together to maximize your engagement. All can be created within minutes using Tag Manager and our reporting gives you the insight you need to accurately measure your campaign’s performance. And just like Tag barcodes, our QR Codes and NFC URLs can be updated whenever needed in Tag Manager so you can keep your materials fresh.
 |
Raise Curiosity Tag barcodes continue to deliver the great experience you’ve become accustomed to, providing a customizable look and feel, a smaller size, and tremendous scanning reliability. Tag barcodes also offer Real Time Location and Device ID to let you truly personalize your campaigns. |
 |
Grab Their Attention We’ve expanded our 2D barcode offering to include the traditional QR Code format. QR Codes created using Tag Manager will have the standard look and feel of other QR generators, but also offer the flexibility that you enjoy with Tag barcodes, including updating content on the fly and advanced reporting. QR Codes created with Tag Manager and scanned using the Tag app can also deliver location and device aware experiences. QR Codes created in Tag Manager can be scanned by third-party apps too, so you won’t lose any connection with your customers. |
 |
Blend in Beautifully Near Field Communication (NFC) is the latest and greatest in mobile technology. While still in the early stages, several Android devices come NFC-enabled, providing you a unique way to engage with your customers. They simply tap their device to the touchpoint to launch their mobile experience and away they go! You can create NFC URLs using Tag Manager and then provide those to third-party NFC vendors to create your touchpoints. NFC URLs can be updated at any time, saving you valuable time and money in keeping your touchpoints relevant. Use our reporting to measure every ‘tap’ and see where and how often people are engaging with your content. |
What to do?
The following table outlines some basic scenarios of when you would use Tag barcodes, QR Codes, or NFC touchpoints. No matter which you choose, all offer a great way to catch your customers’ eyes and engage them with your brand. The small size of our 2D barcodes allows you to easily add them to your marketing materials without taking up much space and using NFC lets you add interactivity without impacting design. You can create all formats using Tag Manager and all can be read using our Tag app.
