What is the difference between BRIJ and a QR Code Generator?
Brij is a new addition to the brand marketer’s tool belt. Like any new concept, it is compared to what is already known. The common comparison for Brij is the QR Code generator. Those questions come in two flavors:
- What is the difference between Brij and a QR Code generator?
- Couldn’t I just do this myself with a free QR code generator?
In this article, we answer these questions and clear up the confusion.
Let’s start with a QR code generator.
What is a QR code generator?
A QR code generator is a tool used to generate Quick Response codes, which are two-dimensional barcodes. The main purpose of these codes is to provide a quick and easy way for users to access relevant information when scanned with a mobile device.
The primary use case in marketing is to redirect the scanner to a web page containing more information or the next action to take. It’s like a physical version of the popular tool Bitly (Bitly also generates QR codes!).
The defining feature of a QR code generator is the ability to create QR code and destination pairing. And once you create that code you can place it anywhere you want to drive a specific action like providing more information, driving a registration, or purchase.
An important distinction to understand is static vs. dynamic QR codes. Dynamic codes can be redirected to a new webpage at any time, so you can print a QR code once and change the destination at any point in the future. NEVER print static QR codes on anything that is semi-permanent because of this limitation.
Common capabilities of a QR code generator:
- Create a series of QR Codes and destination pairings.
- Change design components of the physical QR codes, i.e. shapes, patterns, frame, colors
- Option to include a logo within the physical QR code design
- Ability to create an image file (SVG, JPG, PNG, etc.)
- Destination/action customization (URL, vCard, file download)
- Scan analytics
- Generate Static QR codes for free and dynamic QR codes at a cost
If you Google QR code generators, you’ll find a TON of options. Honestly, they’re a commodity and most of the time people don’t even know what QR code generator they end up using.
And many are free. Free QR code generators come with limitations in customization and analytics tracking. Premium paid QR code generators are required for any use cases that require scale and customization. Most pricing plans scale with the number of QR codes and scans.
It’s also important to consider the difference between a static QR code and a dynamic QR code. We would ALWAYS recommend that you’re creating dynamic QR codes. This allows you to easily redirect the destination pairing of the physical QR code. Whereas with a static QR code, once you print it, you can never update the destination of that QR Code.
What is Brij?
Brij is a QR Code Experience platform.
A QR Code Experience is the end-to-end experience a user has when scanning a QR code. That means the closed-loop pairing of the QR code AND the final destination.
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If you’ve scanned a QR code before, you’ve had a QR Code Experience. It may have been amazing. It may have been terrible, but you had one!
With Brij, the QR Code and destination are a tightly integrated closed loop. This allows for a controlled and deliberate experience. As a result, brands can build robust QR code experiences that drive a singular business goal but also provide the option for users to discover more about a product or brand.
Brands that are using Brij are levering the end-to-end experience:
- Bring their brand to life in dark channels (like retail)
- Educate customers on the brand story and how to use the product
- Improve the product warranty registration experience
- Collect 1st party engagement and survey data
- Drive reorder, upsell, and subscription
It’s quite different from what you might experience with your typical QR Code Experience generated from a QR code generator.
