QR Codes in Retail

Top retail chains use Scanova QR Codes to turn every shelf, endcap, and SKU into a measurable touchpoint. Track which store drove the scan, which campaign converted — all from one dashboard.

Scanova is built for multi-location retail teams wanting to manage multiple QR Codes from a central dashboard.

For most retail teams, getting actionable insights from a QR Code scan is the missing piece needed for strategic scaling. Scanova QR Codes in retail can be printed on shelves and packaging to tell you which store, SKU, or campaign is driving scans.

According to QRTRAC's QR Code Statistics Report 2026, 45% of shoppers have used a QR Code to get product information in-store, making QR a critical bridge between physical retail store shelves and digital product-related content.

The same report also states that the retail industry accounts for 28% of all global QR Code scans, driven by product information, loyalty programs, and promotions.

According to the 2025 GS1 US consumer survey, 79% of consumers are more likely to purchase a product after scanning a QR Code that provides additional product information.

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Retail store's digital display QR Code campaign tracking 2,350 scans and $42K revenue per location via Scanova's QR Code and analytics

Trusted by retail brands like AutoZone and Tesco
to monitor and optimize campaigns

12+

Years of Expertise

200M+

Scans Tracked

105+

Countries Trust Us

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Rated on

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How AutoZone made product information instantly accessible

AutoZone used Scanova's QR Codes to increase customer engagement, achieving 12 million+ total scans, a surge in app downloads, and huge cost savings

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AutoZone retail store achieving 12 million+ QR Code scans for product information access using Scanova

For most brands, a QR Code in retail stores drives scans, but they don't know which ones are working.

What most retail teams have

Static QR Codes that don't show any trackable scan data for retail stores

One fixed destination URL that can't change after printing

A QR Code generator built for one store, one campaign

No GS1 compliance path before the GS1 Sunrise 2027 deadline

What multi-location retail needs

Dynamic QR Codes that show data by location, SKU, shelf placement, and date

Destination that updates after printing — no reprint needed

A QR Code management platform built for chains running at scale

GS1 Digital Link support is built in before the shift happens

Turn every shelf, endcap, and SKU into a measurable touchpoint

Know which display or retail store QR Code drove scans

Scanova's scan analytics break down performance by location, device, time, and scan source for your regional teams to see which store's shelf drove the most traffic.

Your campaign team can export this data via Scanova's CRM integration, run retargeting marketing campaigns on Meta, Google, and LinkedIn, and compare performance across markets.

Shopper scanning retail shelf QR Code with Scanova QR scan analytics and export scan data by store location

Guide shoppers from discovery to repeated purchases

A QR Code can be useful at every stage — for discovery, a product detail page while browsing, a loyalty sign-up at checkout, or a warranty/reorder link post-purchase.

Scanova lets you manage all QR Codes created in bulk from one intuitive dashboard that provides actionable insights.

Shopper scanning retail QR Code redirected to English or Spanish grocery store page via Scanova conditional redirection

Update your QR Codes without reprinting anything

Dynamic QR Codes let you change the destination URL after your signage, shelf talkers, or packaging is already printed and deployed. When a promotion ends, you can even swap the destination to the next campaign. You can also use Scanova's QR Code scheduling feature to activate time-limited offers automatically.

QR Code scheduling based on scan-count limit can help you run offers on a first-come, first-served basis. This removes all reprinting cycle costs.

Scanova Dynamic QR Code on retail signage updating Max Fashion store landing page destination without reprinting

Create and deploy QR Codes across all locations at once

Scanova's bulk QR Code creation lets you generate different location-specific codes in one go.

This is useful for grocery chains deploying QR Codes across every store's produce section, or specialty retailers using QR Codes, giving each location its own scannable loyalty point.

Illustrations of bulk location-specific QR Codes deployed across retail building floors and a farmer's market stall via Scanova

Design QR Codes that match your brand/store identity

Retail companies can use Custom Page QR Code to add their brand/store logo, choose custom colors or an AI-generated design, edit eye and data patterns, and enclose the code in a branded frame.

When scanned, the code leads to a custom mobile landing page tailored to the campaign. A visually branded QR Code stands out on shelves and signage boards more than a generic black and white one.

Scanova QR Code customization options showing frame, eye pattern, data pattern, background, logo, and template for retail branding

Show your own branded domain and page via scans

Using Scanova's white labelling service, every scan leads to your own branded mobile landing page with your own subdomain.

For example, when a shopper scans a shelf at a Walmart store, the page they see carries Walmart's URL, not Scanova's. For retail brands with strict brand standards, this instills brand trust at the point of sale.

Grocery store QR Code resolving to custom branded domain clarks.vegmart.com via Scanova white labelling service

Get your QR Codes GS1-ready before 2027

GS1 Sunrise 2027 requires retail POS systems globally to scan 2D barcodes, replacing traditional UPCs, by the end of 2027.

Pilots are underway in 48 countries. Scanova's GS1 QR Codes support means retail teams can start building compliant QR infrastructure now.

Scanova GS1 QR Code diagram linking website, expiration dates, GTIN, and batch or lot number for retail POS compliance

Your security and privacy matters

Scanova prioritizes user data protection by adhering to stringent security standards, including ISO/IEC 27001:2022, GDPR, and SOC2

How retail teams use Scanova at scale

“The simplicity of this tool makes it easy for even non-tech users”

Easy to use and achieve successful outcomes with Scanova. The simplicity of this tool makes it easy for even non-tech users. Scanova solves the concern of tracking websites and data sheets efficiently.

Caitlyn Duffy
Caitlyn Duffy
Large Format Sales District Leader
PepsiCo
Caitlyn Duffy
Caitlyn Duffy
Large Format Sales District Leader | PepsiCo
PepsiCo

How to create a QR Code for retail businesses

Step01

Choose your retail objective and QR Code category

Decide what you want the QR Code to do: drive traffic to your website, collect customer feedback, enable mobile payments, link to a product manual, or send customers to your loyalty app. Log in to Scanova. Click on Create QR Code and select a relevant category.

Step02

Add your content for the QR Codes in retail stores

Provide relevant content, like a product page URL, a custom landing page with offers, your app store link, a feedback form, or social media profiles. If you're creating QR Codes for multiple SKUs or store locations, use bulk creation to generate them at scale.

Step03

Activate retail-specific features to customize codes

Name your QR Code and tag it by store, campaign, or product line for easy tracking. If you choose a Dynamic QR Code, switch on advanced features like conditional redirection, lead generation forms, or campaign scheduling for time-bound promotions.

Step04

Personalize QR Code design, test, and download

Style your QR Code to match your brand identity by adding your logo, brand colors, and a clear call-to-action. Test the code before downloading. For shelf displays and packaging, export at print-ready resolution to ensure reliable scanning at any size.

12+
Years of Expertise
200M+
Scans Tracked
105+
Countries Trust Us
4.5 ★
Rated on
4.6 ★
Rated on

Check out Scanova's categories for QR Codes in Retail

Website URL QR Code

Website URL QR Code

When scanned, it redirects the
user to a website

Custom Page QR Code

Custom Page QR Code

When scanned, it displays a customized mobile landing page

App Store QR Code

App Store QR Code

When scanned, it prompts the user to download the linked app via Google Play or iOS App Store

Product QR Code

Product QR Code

When scanned, it displays detailed information about the product

Feedback QR Code

Feedback QR Code

When scanned, it redirects users to a feedback/survey form

GS1 QR Code

GS1 QR Code

When scanned, it displays GTIN, expiry dates, batch/lot, and serial numbers

Document QR Code

Document QR Code

When scanned, redirects user to the uploaded document(s)

Coupon QR Code

Coupon QR Code

When scanned, it shows the specified coupon/voucher details

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See how AutoZone got 4.2M scans via Scanova

Questions retail teams ask before getting started

How do I track the performance of QR Codes in retail stores across multiple locations?

Scanova is the best QR Code generator for retail stores and assigns unique tracking parameters to each QR Code at the point of creation — so when you generate location-specific codes for 200 stores, each one reports scans independently in your dashboard. You can filter scan data by location, date range, device type, and time for reporting. This is distinct from generic tools that show only total scan counts.

Can I change where a QR Code points after it's already printed on shelf signage?

Scanova's dynamic QR Codes let you update the destination URL at any time after printing without changing the printed code itself. When a seasonal promotion ends or a product page URL changes, you update the destination in your dashboard, and the redirect takes effect immediately across every printed piece carrying that code.

What's the minimum print size for QR Codes in stores that will scan reliably?

For reliable scanning at arm's length in a retail environment, QR Codes should be printed at a minimum of 1 inch (2.54 cm) or 115 pixels. For floor-level displays or endcaps where shoppers scan from a standing position, 1.5 inches or larger improves scan rates. Scanova generates codes in SVG and EPS vector formats, which can be scaled to any size without loss of clarity for production printing.

What is GS1 Sunrise 2027, and does it affect my retail QR Codes?

The GS1 Sunrise 2027 is an industry-wide transition requiring all retail point-of-sale systems globally to be capable of scanning 2D barcodes, including GS1-compliant QR Codes, by the end of 2027, alongside existing UPC barcodes. For retail chains, it means QR Codes printed on product packaging will need to carry GS1 Digital Link data to be scannable at checkout. Scanova supports GS1 Digital Link, allowing you to build a compliant QR infrastructure before the deadline.

Can one QR Code work across different store locations, or do I need a separate code per location?

Both approaches are supported. For example, a dynamic food and beverage QR Code can redirect all scanners to the same brand website, which is useful for brand-wide campaigns. For location-level tracking and attribution, Scanova's bulk creation tool lets you generate hundreds of unique codes in one upload, each carrying its own tracking ID, so you can measure performance per store location without managing each code manually.

How do retail brands use QR Codes on packaging differently from in-store signage?

Packaging QR Codes typically link to product registration pages, how-to guides, warranty information, loyalty programs, or promotional campaigns, and they're scanned repeatedly over the product's lifetime, so scan volumes are higher per code. In-store signage QR Codes are more campaign-specific as they drive traffic to offers, loyalty sign-ups, or product detail pages tied to a seasonal or location-specific moment. Scanova helps you manage both from the same dashboard, with actionable analytics for code.

Are QR Codes better than traditional barcodes for retail?

Traditional barcodes store a product ID. QR Codes store a destination that can be updated, tracked, and changed after printing. For retail teams running campaigns, loyalty programs, or GS1 Digital Link transitions, QR Codes carry significantly more operational value per printed piece.

Do customers actually scan QR Codes in stores?

According to QRTRAC's QR Code Statistics Report 2026, 45% of shoppers have used a Product QR Code to get product information in-store. Scan rates are highest on shelf talkers, packaging, and checkout-adjacent displays, particularly when the QR Code includes a clear call-to-action.

How large should a retail QR Code be for shelf displays?

Print your QR Codes at a minimum of 1 inch (2.54 cm) for arm's-length scanning. For floor-level displays or endcaps scanned from standing height, 1.5 inches or larger improves reliable scanning. Scanova exports the codes in vector formats, so that the codes can be scaled to any print size without quality loss.

Can QR Codes track in-store customer engagement?

Each Scanova QR Code captures scan data by location, device type, time, and date for each code. For in-store placements, this tells you which shelf, display, or aisle drove the most engagement, without any additional hardware, manual effort, or POS integration required.

Discover how Scanova's QR Codes enhance the in-store shopping experience

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Turn every shelf into a measurable touchpoint

14-day free trial. No credit card required. Trusted by retail across 105+ countries.

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See how AutoZone got 4.2M scans via Scanova