QR Codes

QR codes connect the physical world with your digital Corporate Shop. With softwear.prints, you can generate individual QR codes that link to your shop, individual products, specific pages, or any URL. Each QR code can be named, tracked, and activated or deactivated – giving you full control over your offline marketing efforts.

Prerequisites

Before creating QR codes, ensure that:

• You have successfully logged into the Corporate Admin
• You have administrator rights
• Your shop subscription includes marketing features

What is a QR Code and why should you use it?

A QR code (Quick Response Code) is a two-dimensional barcode that smartphones and tablets can scan with their camera. After scanning, the user is automatically redirected to the stored URL – without having to type in an address.

Benefits of QR codes for your Corporate Shop:

• Easy access - Customers reach your shop or a specific product with a single scan
• Offline-to-Online bridge - Connect print materials, packaging, and events with your shop
• Trackable - See how often each QR code has been scanned
• Flexible - Change the destination of a QR code later without having to replace the printed code
• Professional impression - QR codes on materials signal a modern, digital presence

Create a QR Code

Step 1: Create a new QR code

1. Navigate to Marketing > QR Codes
2. Click on Create new QR code
3. You will be taken to the creation form

Step 2: Assign a name

Enter a meaningful name for the QR code. The name is only visible in the Admin area and serves for your internal organization.

Examples of good names:

• "Summer Collection 2026 Flyer"
• "Düsseldorf Exhibition Stand October 2026"
• "Packaging Insert - Reorder Link"
• "Break Room Notice Central Office"
• "Sales Team Business Card"

Tip: Use a consistent naming convention that indicates the location, period, and purpose. This way, you can quickly find the right QR code even with many codes.

Step 3: Define the target URL

Determine where the QR code should lead. You have the following options:

Shop homepage

The QR code leads directly to the homepage of your Corporate Shop.

• Select Shop as the target type
• Your shop's URL will be automatically entered

Ideal for: General promotional materials, business cards, notices in the entrance area.

Specific product

The QR code leads directly to the product detail page of a specific item.

1. Select Product as the target type
2. Search for the desired product using the search function
3. Select the product from the results list

Ideal for: Packaging inserts with reorder links, product flyers, catalog pages.

Specific category or page

The QR code leads to a specific category or information page of your shop.

1. Select Page as the target type
2. Select the desired page or category from the list

Ideal for: Category-specific flyers (e.g., "All T-Shirts"), linking to the contact page.

Custom URL

The QR code leads to any URL that you can freely enter.

1. Select URL as the target type
2. Enter the complete URL (including https://)

Ideal for: Landing pages with UTM parameters, external forms, partner websites, coupon redemption pages.

Tip: If you want to measure the success of individual QR codes, add UTM parameters to the URL (e.g., ?utm_source=flyer&utm_campaign=summer2026). This way, you can see exactly which visitors came via which QR code in your analytics.

Step 4: Save and download

1. Check all settings
2. Click on Save
3. The QR code will be generated and displayed
4. Download the QR code as an image file (PNG or SVG)

Available download formats:

Note: The SVG format is losslessly scalable and is particularly suitable for professional printing. Use PNG only if SVG is not supported.

Manage QR Codes

Overview of all QR codes

In the QR code overview, you will see all created codes with the following information:

• Name - The internal name of the QR code
• Target - The stored URL or the linked product/page
• Scans - Number of scans to date (if tracking is enabled)
• Status - Active or Inactive
• Created on - Date of creation

Edit QR code

1. Click on the desired QR code in the overview
2. Change the name, target URL, or other settings
3. Click on Save

Important note: If you change the target URL of an existing QR code, the target will change for all already printed and distributed codes. This means: You do not need to print new codes if only the target changes. The physical QR code remains the same, but the redirection leads to the new target.

Tracking and Analytics

For each QR code, softwear.prints automatically collects usage data:

• Number of scans - How often the QR code has been scanned in total
• Scans by period - Evolution of scans over time
• Origin - From which device type the scan occurred (if available)

This data helps you evaluate which offline measures bring the most visitors to your shop.

Activate and deactivate QR code

You can activate and deactivate QR codes at any time:

1. Open the QR code in the detail view
2. Change the Status to Active or Inactive
3. Click on Save

What happens with deactivated QR codes?

If a customer scans a deactivated QR code, they will be redirected to a general page (e.g., the shop homepage) or receive a notice. The scan will still be counted.

Tip: Deactivate QR codes after a campaign has ended to track usage and prevent customers from landing on outdated promotion pages.

Areas of application for QR codes

Print materials

• Flyers and brochures - QR code on the flyer leads directly to the advertised collection or promotion
• Posters - Large-scale advertising in the company or club house with direct shop access
• Business cards - QR code on the back leads to the shop homepage
• Catalogs - QR codes next to product photos for immediate ordering options

Events and trade fairs

• Exhibition stands - QR code on roll-ups and banners for quick shop access
• Presentations - Integrate QR code into slides so listeners can order directly
• Name tags - QR code on exhibitor badges for personal product recommendations
• Competitions - QR code leads to a landing page with a participation form

Packaging and shipping

• Packaging insert - QR code on a card in the package for easy reordering
• Product labels - QR code on the label leads to the product page with care instructions or accessories
• Delivery note - QR code for quick access to the order overview

Internal communication

• Office notice board - QR code in the break room or entrance area for easy shop access
• Intranet - QR code in internal newsletters or on the intranet homepage
• Email signatures - QR code as part of the company signature

Best Practices for QR Codes

Design and placement

• Sufficient size - The QR code should be at least 2 x 2 cm large so that it can be scanned reliably
• Contrast - Dark QR code on a light background (ideally black on white)
• Quiet zone - Leave a white border of at least 5 mm around the QR code
• Call to action - Add a short text to the QR code such as "Scan now" or "To the shop"
• Test - Scan each QR code with different devices before printing

Organization

• Consistent naming - Use a scheme like "Location - Campaign - Date"
• Clean up old codes - Deactivate QR codes after campaigns expire
• Utilize tracking - Compare scan numbers from different locations
• Separate codes - Create a separate QR code for each location, even if the target is identical, to distinguish the origin of the scans

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I customize the appearance of the QR code?

The generated QR code uses a standard design (black on white). For customized designs (e.g., with a logo in the middle or in your corporate colors), you can edit the downloaded SVG file in a graphics program. Make sure that the code remains reliably scannable.

Does the QR code change if I change the target URL?

No. The physical QR code (the image) remains unchanged. softwear.prints uses a redirection, so you can change the target at any time without having to reprint the code.

How small can a QR code be at minimum?

For reliable scanning, we recommend a minimum size of 2 x 2 cm. For larger scanning distances (e.g., posters), the code should be proportionally larger. As a rule of thumb: The QR code should be 1/10 of the expected scanning distance.

Do QR codes work without an internet connection?

No, an active internet connection is required to scan and access the stored URL. The QR code itself only contains the URL, not the page content.

Can I create QR codes in bulk?

Currently, QR codes are created individually. If you need a large number of individual codes (e.g., for personalized mailings), please contact support.

Further to

• Promotional Banners - Set up banner promotions in the shop
• Analytics - Evaluate scan data and traffic sources
• Email Marketing - Integrate QR codes into newsletters
• Marketing Overview - All marketing tools at a glance