On-Site Commitment to Implementing New QR Code-Powered Solutions in Society.

In April 2020, DENSO WAVE established the Nagasaki Research and Development Center to drive new creative solutions. Working alongside local governments, businesses in Nagasaki Prefecture, and partners from academia and industry, the center serves as a hub for developing solutions to regional challenges and expanding them nationwide by leveraging DENSO WAVE’s technologies.

From a QR code application perspective, the center has introduced various ideas on its website, such as Community-Based Public Facility Maintenance, Simplified Bus Operation Tracking, and Effortless Document Management with QR Codes.

The center focuses on areas where DENSO WAVE has not yet fully established a presence, conducting on-site interviews and needs assessments to develop solutions that utilize QR codes and other technologies. These efforts include demonstration experiment proposals and initiatives to bring these solutions to market.

Their work spans themes such as agriculture, fisheries, healthcare, elder care, and regional revitalization, including collaborations with local governments.

One of the key members involved in these efforts is Kodai Inoue, who works in the Business Strategy Planning's Innovation Planning Office. Inoue shares the story behind the center’s establishment.

"In expanding our solutions business utilizing core technologies like QR codes, DENSO WAVE faced challenges in securing skilled talent for development and real-world environments for implementation and testing. Meanwhile, Nagasaki Prefecture was striving to become a leader in ICT and offered support in connecting us with local businesses, universities, and test environments. Seeing the potential for an ideal collaboration, we established the Nagasaki Research and Development Center." says Inoue.

One of the key organizations collaborating on solution proposals is Liaison Nagasaki. Based in the southern region of Nagasaki City, Liaison Nagasaki operates elderly care services and has recently expanded into the sales of ICT tools for caregiving and rental space businesses. Since April 2023, DENSO WAVE has engaged in discussions and needs assessments with them, leading to the launch of a demonstration experiment in late October.

Inoue states "Through multiple visits to Liaison Nagasaki and in-depth discussions, several key challenges became apparent. These included handwritten care records and notes that were difficult to utilize effectively, inaccurate verbal communication of information, and reliance on intuition and experience for scheduling, all of which resulted in inefficient and manual processes that relied heavily on individual staff.

To address these issues, we are leveraging SQRC, which allows a single code to store both public and private data. Our goal is to transition record-keeping, shift management, and scheduling from handwritten to fully digital input. While we are still in the demonstration experiment phase, we aim to expand this solution beyond elder care to various other fields in the future."

Inoue adds that beyond the fields of medical and elderly care, the team is also exploring solutions for agriculture and fisheries, actively listening to on-site challenges and working to develop practical innovations.

"As I speak with professionals across various industries, I see how sincerely they approach their work. However, many struggle to achieve their ideal outcomes due to labor shortages and inefficient processes. I believe that the QR code technology we have been developing will serve as a catalyst in streamlining their operations. Our goal is to provide solutions that make their work smoother and more efficient." Inoue says.

Inoue joined DENSO WAVE as a mid-career hire, after starting his career in software design for satellite communication systems. His motivation was clear: "I wanted to develop services that leverage technology to contribute to society." Having personally used QR codes and recognizing their deep integration into daily life, he was drawn to working with this familiar yet powerful technology.

At DENSO WAVE, he gained insight into the various specialized QR codes that most people never encounter, learning about their unique characteristics and design. Through this experience, he developed a strong appreciation for the potential of QR code technology and its applications in solution development.

"Early in my career at DENSO WAVE, I had the opportunity to speak with Masahiro Hara, the chief engineer behind QR code development. During our conversation, he said something that truly stuck with me: 'If there isn’t a QR code that fits the application, we should just create one ourselves.'

Up until that moment, I had never considered the idea of actually creating new QR codes. I realized that I had been limiting myself to existing QR code frameworks. That conversation changed my perspective—now, I not only want to utilize existing technology but also propose new QR code standards to address real-world challenges." states Inoue.

As Hara emphasized, solutions like SQRC, rMQR, tQR, and FrameQR— allow customization of frame shape and color for various applications—were all developed in response to real-world challenges and industry needs.

For Inoue, a key focus is not just conducting research and interviews but embracing an on-site approach. When visiting potential users, he brings working demos, allowing people to test the technology directly. By evaluating factors like scanning accuracy and ease of use in actual workflows, he refines solutions to address practical issues better.

Through this iterative, real-world engagement, Inoue and his team continue to explore new frontiers for QR code technology, pushing its potential even further.

Over the past 30 years, numerous engineers have contributed to the evolution of QR codes. As we look ahead to the next 30 years, we ask ourselves "What challenges are current team members preparing to handle?"

From their respective areas of expertise, Kanbe and Inoue share their visions for the future of QR code technology and its expanding role in society.

"Traditionally, the focus of QR codes has been on how to encode information, read it with devices, and transfer it effectively. However, what we aimed to achieve with tQR was the development of a new QR code system that leverages location data.

Looking ahead, we’re not just limiting its application to platform screen doors at train stations. We hope to explore and showcase the vast potential of QR codes centered around location-based functionality," says Kanbe.

"Today, smartphones serve as the gateway to the digital world, and QR codes are a key access point. But in the future—where wearables, AR goggles, drones, and robots become everyday tools—QR codes may evolve into something more.

We could see a world where drones and robots autonomously scan QR codes to trigger actions. Exploring new possibilities through collaborations with emerging technologies is something we’re actively considering." explains Inoue.

As society evolves, so do the challenges faced in the field. Our mission remains clear: to thoroughly understand these challenges and identify the most effective and fundamental solutions. At the heart of our approach lies a key question: How can QR codes be leveraged to address these issues?

Guided by DENSO’s principle of Genchi Genbutsu—seeing and understanding reality firsthand—we remain committed to grasping the essence of each situation. Passed down through generations, this enduring mindset has stood the test of time. As new societal challenges arise, we will continue to push the boundaries of innovation, developing new QR code-based solutions and technologies.

※The QR Code, tQR, and rMQR codes are registered trademarks of DENSO WAVE.