The Various Use Cases of QR Codes in White Goods Manufacturing

Did you know that the white goods industry in India was valued at 13.66 billion USD in FY21? As per estimation, the industry can cross 21 billion USD by 2025. It has immense growth prospects in tier 2, 3 cities, and rural areas as brands further penetrate these markets.

White goods include home appliances like air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines and dryers, dishwashers, and other appliances with higher shelf life than most other products. They are bought once every 5 to 10 years unless a revolutionary upgrade comes by. The product categories keep merging and evolving, following the market trends and government guidelines.

The QR code mandate in India on white goods

Star labels have been a part of white goods for quite a while. It helped the customers gauge the energy efficiency of any appliance, thus estimating the energy usage and cost while purchasing. But these star labels were misused in the industry, too.

To control this, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has made it mandatory for white goods manufacturers to affix QR codes on their devices. The QR codes will be linked to the technical specifications and energy efficiency rating of appliances. Customers can conveniently scan this QR code on their smartphones and tablets, get redirected to the BEE registered appliance database, and verify their products.

Use cases of QR codes in white goods manufacturing

Now that manufacturers must affix QR codes on white codes, it seems interesting to explore its potential. These codes are imprinted on the goods, and customers can scan them to reach any page that the manufacturers lead them to. The manufacturers can actually modify the QR codes and route the customers to numerous possible pages, focusing on the growth of the business.

But apart from this, QR codes can be used for several other aspects as well. Let’s take a look at some of the best use cases of QR codes in white goods manufacturing are:

Product QR code for transparency

The key to business growth is transparent communication. Customers trust a brand that gives out every detail on all their products. Manufacturers in the white goods industry can affix product QR codes linked to the energy efficiency details and the product details. The information can be in the form of text, website, videos, etc. Some manufacturers also allow the customers to compare product details to help them make an informed decision.

Inventory management

With a QR code on each product, manufacturers can track their sales across categories of appliances through QR codes. When manufacturers submit this accurate data to the government, they can generate an appropriate picture of the Indian Appliance Market.

Customer feedback

Genuine feedback is also an asset to all companies. By directing the customers to a feedback form, manufacturers can gain insight into the after-sales experience. Some customers can honestly suggest changes upon using a product. These feedback forms can also be used for market research, asking the customers what other features they would want in their white goods. Any small demand can lead to an impressive innovation.

Drive traffic to the website and social media

QR codes are a great way to expand the social media reach by connecting to the brand website and social media accounts. Manufacturers can increase their sales by offering promotions and discounts on their social media, alongside spreading brand awareness. QR codes can strengthen a brand's online identity and help with brand retention even after a successful sale.

Create easy-access guide

Customers rarely make the effort of going through the thick guides that come with all white goods. From setup to recycling, a user manual has all the information, but it can be too exhaustive for most people. This is why it can be helpful if a QR code leads to an easy-access guide where the customer can specifically search for their queries. On a digital platform, be it their smartphone or tablet, they can quickly navigate through the guide, and find a solution to their problem.

Customer service

Good customer service is vital to any brand's growth. One of the most convenient use cases of QR codes is that they can help the customers quickly reach customer service by scanning. The QR code can redirect them to either an email address or a contact number. It is also convenient if the customer wants a repair, and the brand offers pick-up services too, right from their website, reachable through QR codes.

Benefits of QR codes over traditional technology

While the star labels conveyed the information, they were not interactive. Using QR codes can have several advantages over them, such as:

  • Scanning a QR code is very quick and easy. Additionally, there is no scope for typing errors.
  • The QR codes are editable, so the company can keep changing them as the information varies due to a product upgrade or new improvements.
  • QR codes can have extensive information without any restriction of space or printing cost.
  • Manufacturers can route their customers to engaging content through these codes.
  • The QR codes are actionable and easy to save.
  • They are scannable even when the dirt settles on them.
  • Manufacturers can also track how many customers scan their QR codes and go on to interact with their content.

The scope of using QR codes in the white goods industry is wide open to experimentation. Besides following the government mandate, companies can create customized use cases for these QR codes, leveraging the code to establish their brand identity, and brand recognition, and improve their market penetration.