I read an interesting Mashable article the other day about QR codes and how they are poised to hit the mainstream. It got me thinking about some possibilities in using them inside my IT organization, so I thought I’d put some of those thoughts down.
A QR code, or quick response code, is a bar code. Better said, it is a 2D bar code. Most people have seen them in advertising or on some items you may purchase. The interesting thing about them is the ability to tie them back to a set of information. For example, I recent switched to the Droid X from my iPhone. The app purchase/download process is a bit different, with the main difference being the use of QR codes for downloading apps on android. Many websites advertise their application for download, whether by a link you can browse to on your phone, or more simply opening your bar code scanning application on your phone and scanning a QR code on the screen which prompts you to download the application.
This got me thinking, what about using QR codes to inventory technology. I’m talking more about a simple set of QR code stickers and a database of information, what about being able to inventory an office or a cubicle? In my current corporate environment we have approximately 250 workstations, 20 offices, a few conference rooms, reception areas, etc… What about utilizing a QR code that tied to all the technology equipment in the office, cubicle, or conference room. You may pull up a list of the hardware, versions, model numbers, IP addresses, phone extensions, last service, etc. What makes this powerful is that my entire IT support staff have smartphones (iphones or android). A simple bar code scanner could read the code, pull up a URL or some other link to an application that houses all that information. No longer do they need to run around with a laptop and spreadsheets to know the details, but rather they could scan and go. It would be interesting to see the cost savings in terms of productivity. Maybe we’ll try that out.
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