Interview with CaoLiao QR Code: Making QR Codes Valuable in Application
Original: https://cli.im/article/detail/2063
Scanning QR codes for dining, shopping, or exchanging contact information between friends has become commonplace... The closer QR codes are to our daily lives, the wider their application becomes. Jiang Yunhui, CEO of Ningbo Linjia Network Technology Co., Ltd., recognized this business opportunity and embarked on his entrepreneurial journey by delving into the field of QR code cloud services.
Today, searching for "QR code" on Baidu brings up the "CaoLiao QR Code Generator" page operated by this company. Since its launch in 2013, CaoLiao QR Code has become the largest online QR code service platform in China, capturing 80% of the domestic QR code cloud service market, with over 2 million users.
Jiang Yunhui explained that the name "CaoLiao" (meaning "fodder" or "forage") was chosen because the company's team likens QR codes to "horses," and their mission is to provide the "fodder" for functional development of these "horses."
How can a single QR code be made versatile? "First, the page generated by the QR code must allow for real-time updates and maintenance records, which is where our 'dynamic QR code' technology comes into play—separating the content from the pattern of the QR code. Second, the QR code must be able to identify the scanner's identity and grant corresponding permissions. For example, in elevator maintenance, residents scanning the QR code can only view maintenance records, while elevator technicians can scan the code to add maintenance records after each service. This is achieved through our 'one code, multiple recognitions' technology," Jiang Yunhui said.
How advanced is CaoLiao QR Code's technology? When the "National Standard for Commodity QR Codes" was officially implemented on February 1 last year, the drafting units included not only the three internet giants "BAT" and the three major telecom operators but also Linjia Network.
CaoLiao QR Code's rapid market capture and rise to industry leadership are undoubtedly tied to its cutting-edge technology, as well as its willingness to provide QR code technical services to the public, making it a "first mover." This aligns perfectly with the internet's spirit of "openness and sharing."
"Linjia Network was founded in 2011. Initially, we collaborated with an advertising media supplier to create advertising maps for bus stops, which involved displaying information about nearby merchants on bus stop signs to recommend them to passengers. However, as the number of merchants grew, the small signs could no longer accommodate all the information, so we thought of using QR codes to store merchant details," Jiang Yunhui recalled.
With the widespread adoption of smartphones, QR codes became increasingly versatile and applicable to a broader audience. Linjia Network eventually abandoned its advertising business to focus entirely on QR code cloud services. Today, CaoLiao QR Code serves heavyweight clients across various industries, including CCTV, China Telecom, Bridgestone Tires, Yili, and Hisense.
"We are currently operating with minimal profits, reinvesting most of our earnings into technological development. Our goal is to continue deepening our expertise in the QR code niche and maintain our leading position in China," Jiang Yunhui said. He hopes that CaoLiao QR Code will evolve into a professional platform for carrying item information, enabling QR codes to truly generate value.
Article reprinted from Ningbo Daily: Linjia Network: Mastering QR Code Cloud Services