Trends with QR codes during the pandemic

This collection examines how QR codes evolved from pandemic necessity to permanent fixture in use cases ranging from financial transactions to restaurant operations. It also reveals a significant disconnect between industry adoption and customer satisfaction.

Key Insights

The Adoption Gap: While 81% of diners prefer physical menus, restaurants have largely retained QR codes for operational benefits: real-time menu updates, cost savings, and data analytics capabilities. Only 1% of customers actually prefer QR codes, yet the technology persists because it serves business needs more than guest preferences.

Generational Divide: Younger diners (18-34) show higher acceptance, but even they prioritize menu variety (42%) and price transparency (34%) over digital convenience. Women express more privacy concerns about data collection than men.

Beyond Hygiene: What began as contactless safety has transformed into a strategic tool for loyalty programs, payment processing, and customer behavior tracking—capabilities restaurants are reluctant to abandon despite user friction.

Implementation Challenges: Small text readability (26% complaint rate), technology reliability issues, and the requirement to use personal devices create persistent pain points. Success requires careful attention to security, error correction levels, and user experience design.

The Broader Shift: QR codes represent just one element of pandemic-era changes that stuck—including self-service kiosks, takeout dominance, and visible cleaning protocols—fundamentally reshaping the dining experience.