What is QR code?
QR code (stands for Quick Response code) is a machine-readable image which can store information. By information, we mean data such as alphanumeric text, web address, images or any other file format. For example, the QR code below contains the web address www.hinote.in. By scanning the QR code below, you can directly open the link www.hinote.in instead of having to enter the web address in the address bar of the browser.
QR code was invented in 1994 by Denso Wave, a Japanese company.
How to read QR code?
You can read a QR code from your mobile phone using a QR code scanner. There are many QR code scanner apps available for both Android and iOS (iPhone), free of cost, such as the ones below.
a. Android - ZXing scanner
b. iOS (iPhone) - Quick Scan
In addition to the above, there are other scanner apps too. Please visit the Google Play store or the iTunes site to evaluate the scanners available.
Download the scanner app, open the app on your mobile and scan the QR code.
Why do we use QR code in documents?
Organizations issue a variety of documents such as offer/appointment letter, experience certificate, and address proof to employees. These documents are perused by stakeholders including employees and third-party organizations such as banks/financial institutions. There are many instances reported of frauds where an organization's letterhead and the signature image of authorised signatory are pasted into documents that are not issued by the company. Such frauds include forged experience certificates submitted to prospective employers and forged salary hike letters submitted to banks/financial institutions as part of loan application processing. Needless to say, inauthentic documents impact the reputation and standing of organizations and impose costs (both time and money) which can be expensive. QR code can be placed in documents for third-party users to verify the authenticity of such documents. The process of authentication prevents frauds.
QR code can also be used an HR team in order to catalogue all the documents issued to employees, for future reference. QR code is currently used by many leading organizations in India in order to verify documents issued to employees.
How does the document verification process work?
Anyone who wishes to verify the authenticity of a document scans the QR code. The scanner displays a web address of web page which contains a copy of the document. The person can then check if the document displayed on the web page is same as the document (containing the QR code) in his possession.
Please scan the QR code in the sample document attached below in order to verify the authenticity of the document.