QR Codes Pay Off for the City of Mishawaka

QR codes are digital or printed squares that, when scanned by a mobile device, pull up a linked webpage.

These unique codes serve many purposes, from buying that morning coffee to quickly learning more information about an advertisement, all while limiting in-person contact. Let’s explore the effectiveness of QR codes in billing and collections strategies.

QR code successes in e-adoption efforts

Since rolling out this feature in August of 2021, over 250 InvoiceCloud users have implemented QR codes into their billing strategy. Among the InvoiceCloud users who have implemented QR codes, we’ve seen a correlation with higher online payment adoption rates. For example, the City of Mishawaka, IN sent two batches of QR-coded postcards in late August 2021, resulting in 826 QR code scans. Since mailing those cards (in August and September of 2021) Mishawaka Utilities saw 1,082 new online payers — a 31% increase from the previous two months.

How can billing organizations leverage QR codes?

Here are a few impactful ways billing organizations can utilize QR codes to drive e-payment adoption and, receive more consistent, on-time payments:

1. Directly on the bill

Placing a QR code right on the bill is direct and simple, as the user won’t need to look elsewhere to find it. Many InvoiceCloud clients have found this method effective, including a city in northern Virginia that saw great success by putting QR codes directly on their bills with instructions in both English and Spanish.

2. Postcards

Sending a standalone postcard with a QR code and payment instructions, rather than an entire envelope of bills and notices, not only saves time but conserves paper and decreases print and mail costs.

InvoiceCloud user, Mishawaka, IN conducted an A/B test on the QR-coded postcards our team created for their billing efforts. One set of cards included a QR code with the text “save time, pay online,” and another included the QR code with the text “pay from your mobile device.”

Interestingly, the postcard with the wording around paying from a mobile device performed better overall, indicating that payers are excited to make quick, easy payments right on their smartphone.

3. Posters

Creating and hanging QR-coded posters for your organization’s office area can create a lot of buzz around using these codes for bill payment. One of the largest cities in Alabama (an InvoiceCloud client) saw tremendous success by placing posters at the desks of their service representatives, cashier windows, vestibules for drop-off payments, and in a local newspaper print ad.

Want to use QR codes in your marketing communications? Many pieces in the Marketing Resource Center (MRC) contain QR codes. If you do not yet have a QR code associated with your MRC profile, please reach out to billermarketing@invoicecloud.net to get started with this FREE resource.