qr code platform - roast or toast? Please help me decide
Please help me decide whether to keep or bin one of my startups...
Firstly an intro - I am new to IH and so far loving it. I'm working by day on an exciting live video startup as CTO. But the thing that gives me the biggest buzz is the early ideas/build stage, so I found IH just last week to get more inspiration for new ideas, and wow, I have found my tribe!!
I have a couple of other cool ideas and I cannot wait to share them, and also to contribute to the community - I've been in tech for 30yrs so please ask me anything and I can't wait to help others on here.
So, the idea that needs roasting, or a big thumbs up, please help me decide...
I built Scan+Click (www.scan.click) during the start of the pandemic last year as a simple Saas management dashboard for QR codes. It lets bars, restaurants, cafes, etc easily setup QR codes and manage what websites they points at, get usage stats, etc. I even built a tracking module so visitors are forced to scan a code to register being in a venue - but then the UK government brought out there own ;-(
And now everyone is even more locked down so it's hard to sell to cafes that can hardly afford to pay their rents.
I feel QR codes have a big future in the new no-touching world that we're likely to see. But am I right? Is this idea just too difficult right now? Are QR codes history? I am really torn between giving it a big growth hacking push, and ditching in favour of one of my other new ideas.
I genuinely need some input from an amazing community. Even if it's that there is a one-off opportunity, quick in, sell a few hundreds packages on the life time deal and then move on.
Steve, I took a look at your site, and TBH, I couldn't figure out what you were offering. The messaging isn't simple or clear enough imo.
When visiting any landing page, I need to know in 5-7 seconds what it is & how it helps me. Unfortunately, your homepage didn't get me there.
Separate from that, I do think there's a future in QR codes now that most smart-phone cameras can read them natively. The question is -- where's the opportunity?
Like you experienced, it's easy for a business to replace your service, when a tool/app/service they are already using includes the capability in their system.
So, what can you do now?
As it pertains to getting take-out (since indoor/outdoor dining isn't largely available), maybe you could create a "check-in" component / queue. Instead of people going up to a person to pick-up their order, maybe they could just scan a QR code, put in a little info, and that notifies the restaurant or store they are there to pick-up their order.
Kind of similar to how the reservation systems were working -- they'd take your name and phone number, and text you when your table is ready.
This would be similar in concept, but all self-managed. Want to pick something up? Scan QR Code, enter some information (maybe name and mobile), get into a queue, and be able to track where you are in that queue.
Maybe that already exists -- but it just popped into my head because I know how painful it has been sometimes when I needed to go pick something up.
Another example right now -- visiting your pet vet. My experience has been horrible. You get to the vet, have to call them, they manually check you in, and you have to sit in your car until they call you -- and you never know how long you'll be waiting. Terrible experience that can be better.
Anyway, just some initial thoughts :)
@iammike Mike, I really appreciate your input, cheers. I totally get what you say about the landing page.
I think your ideas are good ones, but given the food pickup idea is temporary and none of us know how the high street is going to look after this pandemic, or when it will change, it feels hard to justify basing a business model on this.
Again the vets idea (which I know all too well - our dog was given a checkup in the boot of our car in the town's car park as we weren't allowed into the vet building!). It's good but it feels like a small market. Or one that requires treading the pavements or hitting the phones to win. That is not my bag - I'm a techie who can stretch to some digital growth marketing, but I come out in a sweat if I have to cold call ;-)
I guess I already knew the answer to my question. The world, especially the bits of it that use physical/printed stuff like a qr code in a real-world location is upside down and for me right now is just too scary to fit a biz around.
The only other thing I can think of is business cards. After the pandemic, who on earth wants to take a piece of cardboard that has been in a wallet in the sweaty back pocket of someone's jeans - right next to their arse. Sorry if that offends, but just like cash, I think it's a harsh reality we all now need to think about. So, when we're allowed out again, we open our phone and a qr code appears (in an app or saved as screen background), which someone can scan with their phone and get our digital business card. I think that's a biggie, but 6-12 months too early, probably...??
Yeah, I was just throwing some ideas up that came top of mind. Didn't think about them too much :)
As for the business card via QR code -- I don't see it. It's just as easy to send a vcard via sms/text, and nearly every phone can open/save a vcard.
I was in Asia (Vietnam & Thailand) back in Jan 2020, and there QR codes seemingly everywhere -- for payment, information, etc. I definitely see QR for payment, and that is slowly growing here in the U.S.
QR is kinda a chicken/egg thing. Consumers will have to need/want something bad enough to want to use them.
For example, to get 20% off something, make consumers scan a QR code to get the secret key/word to give to a store employee. But, if the store doesn't get anything in return (other than a customer happy they got a discount), then why would a store go out of their way to promote QR code usage?
It has to be a win/win for the consumer and the store/shop owner.
Right now it feels like you have a solution in search of a problem, which is kind of a tough place to be.
Enjoy the discussion!
Personally I find the user flow of vcards/sms very clunky. doesn't always work well. you have to ask for someone's mobile number (or they yours) which sometimes you don't want to give. And the Dad Test fails (asking my dad to do it!).
Yeah I think Asia is very far ahead with qr codes. and for payments, totally get it; but the payment providers have got that covered. chicken/egg - tell me about it ;-)
But the discussion about business cards, you've triggered an old thought... imagine being in a trade exhibition. far too much paper is used for brochures, etc and that needs totally disrupting. as does making you then carry 2 carrier-bags worth of useless leaflets home with you ;-)
So every stand has a series of qr codes. as do the stand staff. just "scan and click" as you walk around. either for e-leaflets. or for the sales person who you want to follow up with. they all take you to a single scan.click website where they all get collated (you've already signed-in). So a fancy bookmark manager perhaps, but with lots of additional features to keep them all together and relatable to the exhibition.
But given that Chrome now lets you scan qr codes, perhaps this one is already done too!
hhmmm, you are right, a solution looking for a problem. qr codes are so damn clever, but it is no surprise that after 10+ years they still aren't everywhere we look.
Thanks Mike, really is great getting some outside thoughts and validation - or de-validation, is there a word for that ;-)
Funny, I didn't know that Chrome was able to scan QR codes, but then I realized it's only for iPhones :)
Though, I did just learn that Google Lens does read QR codes. So, that's kinda cool.
Funny, I deal quite a bit with barcodes because of my PickingPal app, but don't receive many questions related to barcode format. PickingPal is format independent -- it just looks at the scanned value.
I quite like the tradeshow or event idea, and the premise of moving toward a paperless event. The good news about that sector, is that there is a revenue opportunity (for you and the event management company).
Seems like you'd have to build something first, then try to get at least one event to use it for free to prove the concept and work out any kinks.
Some events have their own app too, so something to consider there too. Might be a while before in-person events start occurring regularly again, so you have some time.
Thanks for the discussion. Enjoy this kinda brainstorming stuff.
just saw PickingPal website - do you know, I don't think I've ever seen an animated favicon before, nice! How is that biz going? Do you find working in woocommerce a good marketplace to get your app out?
yeah in-person events could be good, but not sure many of us should be focusing a business model on those coming back any time soon. So think I will park Scan.Click for the moment, but watch the space and who knows.
Great chat Mike, cheers. Now it's on with my idea for helping startup and investor matching.
It doesn't generate that much revenue yet, so it's really a side-hustle. About $15k over the last year, and $2k in Jan 2021.
Margin is usually pretty good, and there can be compound growth (license expires each year, and product gets disabled), so there's potential.
I don't sell through the WooCommerce marketplace any more. I did originally, but Woo wanted 3rd party developers to sign this pretty crazy agreement that gave them certain rights to use my product's name/trademark.
Essentially they wanted rights to keep a variant of my app, and be able to use the name in the event of an Agreement termination. So essentially, if I ever left the marketplace, they could continue selling my app.
They worded in a way that it was moreso there to protect WooCommerce customers who bought a license to my software via the marketplace. But, it gave them too much leverage.
There was some other stuff too, so I opted out of selling on the marketplace, and instead decided to sell directly via my own website.
Nice! Good chatting with you too. If you feel like connecting, my email and LinkedIn are in my IH profile.
oh! that is very interesting to know about them, I had an idea for something but not sure they're big enough to justify that kind of weird control. Yeah direct is good and maybe some other marketplaces out there too.