700% Surge in Barcode scans, often 2D

• New ways to use packaging to connect to consumers
• T.H.E.M. and Zip-Pak to Showcase Innovative Zipbox™ Package Format and Mobile Marketing Technology at PACK EXPO International 2010

For those of you who wondered to what extend such innovations are getting traction with consumers, Phil Lempert Supermarketguru provides part of the answer in an article "700% Surge in Barcode scans, often 2D":

• Consumers’ barcode scanning through the ScanLife platform has soared 700% from January 2010 levels until today.
• Since July 2010, more scans occurred in a single month than in all of 2009.
• The fairly equal scanning activity of 1D and 2D barcodes means “people are less concerned with code format and more interested in getting information quickly,” says ScanLife.
• The 2D code is most often (85% of the time) used to connect people to a website.

The most frequent UPC scans occur on everyday products commonly found in the kitchen or bathroom – health and beauty care has a 21.2% share of such activity, and grocery has a 14.4% share, the ScanBuy report notes. 

Noteworthy is also that use is NOT strongly tied to a particular age category.