Barcodes, especially 2D like QR codes can be extremely handy and timesaving

You can scan the same barcode in app or from your phone camera app or 3rd party barcode app

• to take you to that Asset, person etc..,
• In a picker
• In a list to select (or filter) the list

Benefits:

• Eliminate typo's
• Save time

See also this document for what to put in the QR code and create a report Barcode Printing, what content - Sample Asset report

But what about

• dust,
• grime,
• cleaning chemicals,
• abrasion,
• UV (outdoors and fluorescent, mercury vapor or other UV emitting lights)

damaging the barcodes

You should first test your QR codes,

• make sure you are happy with the Error Correction level (ECC Level), get them a little dirty - whatever would be 'normal' in your environment.
• make sure they are big enough for the distance that you plan to read them from, try from about 30% further away in testing.

Then you have a few choices for printing the final ones:

1. Use a professional print company that will provide grease, water, abrasion, and probably UV resistant labels for you with strong permanent adhesive.
2. Use a 3D printer to print physical QR codes - use white and black filament.
3. We have one customer, a manufacturer who also supports the end buyer, who came up with the idea of imprinting a unique code into every one of their assets they sell, so the URL for them to provide support is physically part of the manufacturing process, embedded in the item itself.
4. Print your own with a good quality printer and paper, and then get a urethane or other type of spray to coat them well. Then test them in water and oil to make sure you are doing it properly before doing 100's of them.
5. Professional metal plaque.

While QR codes allow you to use colors other than black and white, the more contrast, the more likely you are going to get consistent good readings, so use black and white.

While QR codes allow you to 'corrupt' them by putting a logo or image in them - this relies on the error correction to 'fix' them. So while it may make sense for marketing reasons, for Maintenance - we recommend against it, allow yourself the best quality for your QR codes, minimize the chances of reading problems.

If you don't want random people reading your QR codes, you can use one of our other supported 2D bar codes - ones that most readers won't recognize.

• But since we require a log in, this is most of the time not worth worrying about it,
• but be aware that you can use codes other than QR codes in MCe.
• But also note that unless you have special barcode reading software, you won't be able to use your camera app to read non-QR codes to get in to the asset etc..,