Content about Automatic identification and data capture

PHILADELPHIA — Commuters in Philadelphia who have forgotten to go holiday shopping may want to head to their nearest bus stop.

The shelter of the bus stop across the street from 30th Street Station includes a display from Target that allows passengers to buy gift items by scanning QR codes with their mobile phones.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target will roll out QR codes in stores in time for the holiday shopping season. Beginning Oct. 14, each of the chain's top 20 toys will have a QR code that shoppers can scan with their mobile device, allowing them to purchase the toy directly and ship it for free to anyone, anywhere in the U.S. The toys will be promoted with signs featuring the QR codes.

Customer loyalty has always been paramount for retailers, but as we wade into 2012 and beyond, it is becoming increasingly evident that retailers have a renewed focus on establishing a strong sense of loyalty and creating an engaging customer experience through cross-channel initiatives that are touching customers both in and — perhaps more importantly — out of the store.

BOSTON — As many as 20% of smartphone users made a purchase after scanning a QR code, according to a Consumer Pulse study released Wednesday by Chadwick Martin Bailey and iModerate Research Technologies.

ATLANTA — NeoMedia Technologies on Thursday reported a dramatic 240% rise in mobile bar code scans via its scanning software application NeoReader for Black Friday 2011 compared with last year, including 13% growth in 2-D scans over 1-D.

SEATTLE — A company that makes tracking technology for retailers and drug companies is making an initial public offering.

Seattle-based Impinj, which makes ultra-high-frequency radio-frequency identification tags, made the announcement Thursday, saying it had filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to a proposed IPO.

Impinj’s tags, which are cheaper and smaller than regular RFID tags, are used by retailers to track inventory and by drug companies to keep counterfeit drugs out of the supply chain.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Ken's Foods will utilize all-plastic pallets with embedded radio frequency identification tags developed by Intelligent Global Pooling Systems, iGPS announced.

Ken's Foods, which produces and packages more than 400 varieties of dressings and sauces, said iGPS' solution aids the company in its sustainability efforts.