DNP Develops Inbound QR Code System

Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP) has developed a new system that takesQR Codes¹ (two-dimensional code) from product packages and displays them ina multilingual 3D format on smartphone screens.

At present, languages used in displaying product names and explanations includeChinese, English and French, which are mainly aimed at overseas visitors toJapan. The new system targets daily necessities and food manufacturers, andmarketing activities will commence in February.

[Background]

Almost 20 million overseas visitors arrived in Japan in 2015, making fora record year for tourism, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization,and spent in excess of 3 trillion yen per annum, or approximately $25 billion,according to the Japan Tourism Agency. The inbound tourist market is expectedto undergo a further expansion.

At the same time, however, products displayed on store shelves in Japan generallydisplay only Japanese language information, making it difficult for non-Japaneseconsumers to gain an understanding of the product features, and relevant safetyissues. There is also a need to produce a system that allows overseas purchasersof Japanese goods to confirm usage instructions and product benefits after theyhave returned to their homes. In order to answer these needs, DNP has developeda system that takes the Japanese language QR Codes listed on products, and displaysthe relevant information in a multilingual 3D format on smart phone screens.The newly developed multilingual system puts DNP in a position to provide inboundservices that can be used by overseas visitors to Japan in numerous commercialscenes, such as when considering purchasing decisions at retail outlets, andactual post-purchase use.

[System Features]

Product information and 3D data are registered on a dedicated server in multiplelanguages, including Chinese, English and French. Consumers, including overseasvisitors, can read off the QR Code printed on the product packaging, or attachedseals, using their smart phones. The newly developed system allows for the multilingualdisplay of the product information in a 3D format on smart phone screens.

The products features of the newly developed system are as follows,

• Provides realistic experience for users reading off productinformation with their smart phones. By operating the smart phone's touch panels,it is possible to expand and shrink the image size, and revolve the packageimage.
• The new system makes it possible to confirm product informationin multiple languages when actually using the product after the purchaser hasreturned to their home country.
• The pre-selected language will be automatically displayedon the smartphone screen, but this can be changed at any time.
• Apart from product information displayed on packaging,advertising slogans can also be displayed in each language, making it possibleto boost the sales promotion effect.

[Forward Looking Events]

DNP will take the newly developed system and the Augmented Reality (AR) technology-drivensystem for displaying multilingual product package information on tablet terminalscreens installed at retail outlets offered since September 2015, and marketthem to manufacturers of foods, daily necessities and cosmetics, aiming for1.5 billion yen in sales by FY 2018.

 

1: QR Code is a registered trademark of Denso Wave Incorporated.

* DNP has positioned Knowledge and Communication, Food and Healthcare, theEnvironment and Energy, and Lifestyle and Mobility as growth areas to promoteproducts and services that will become Tomorrow's Basics. DNP already offersa variety of services for inbound travelers, and looking ahead, the Companyaims to provide a variety of new products and services, including guidance-basednavigation systems, tablet terminal-based customer-support applications, andinterpreter/operator guidance services.

* Product prices, specification and service contents mentioned in this newsrelease are current as of the date of publication. They may be changed at anytime without notice.