QR code payment guide for merchants

QR codes have quickly moved from being a marketing gimmick to a mainstream way to pay. Walk into a café, retail store, or even a farmer’s market, and you’re likely to see one taped to the counter or printed on a receipt. For merchants, the appeal is clear: customers can complete a payment by simply pointing their phone camera at the code — no need for card swipes, no special terminals, orno physical contact.

This guide will walk you through how QR code payments work, the different methods available, where they’re commonly used, and the key points to consider before adding them to your business.

What is a QR code?

QR codes, short for quick response codes, were first developed in 1994 by the Japanese company Denso Wave. Unlike the familiar one-dimensional barcode you see on grocery items, QR codes can hold much more information in a compact square pattern. That extra capacity is what makes them useful beyond inventory tracking, particularly in digital payments.

When used for payments, a QR code can include details such as:

• Merchant ID – identifying the business that’s receiving the money.
  
  
• Order ID – linking the payment to a specific transaction or receipt.
  
  
• Transaction amount – pre-filled automatically when using dynamic QR codes.
  
  
• URLs or payment links – directing the customer to a secure checkout page.

With this information embedded, QR codes fitslot neatly into the wider digital payments ecosystem, giving merchants the ability to accept not just cards, but also modern digital wallets. 

How QR code payments work

The payment process usually follows these steps:

1. The merchant displays a QR code, either printed, on a screen, or generated dynamically on a POS system.
   
   
2. The customer scans the QR code using their smartphone’s camera or a payment app.
   
   
3. The code using the customer’s device directs them to confirm details such as the transaction amount.
   
   
4. The customer authorises the payment through their digital wallet or linked card, sometimes confirming with a password or fingerprint scan.
   
   
5. The payment service processes the transaction, and both merchant and customer receive confirmation.

In practice, the customer scans the QR code, verifies details, and taps to complete the transaction. For merchants, integrating QR code payments may involve connecting with a POS system or enabling QR code checkout on their website.

Types of QR code payments

QR code payment methods come in two main types:

How QR codes are used for payments

QR code payment methods support a wide range of industries:

• Retail – scan-to-pay at checkout counters or self-service kiosks.
  
  
• Restaurants – customers scan QR codes on menus to order and pay using their mobile device.
  
  
• Hospitality – guests scan to pay for room service, minibar, or booking upgrades.
  
  
• E-commerce – QR checkout on desktop where a customer scans a QR code for payment online via smartphone.
  
  
• Freelancers and professionals – QR codes on invoices to allow clients to pay using their preferred payment method.
  
  
• Events – ticketing, merchandise, and food vendors use QR code scan- to- pay for fast throughput.
  
  
• Peer-to-peer – individuals send and receive money via a personal QR code payment link.
  
  
• Utilities – customers scan the code on bills to complete transactions instantly.
  
  

Merchants using Antom can access the entry code, order code, and user-presented modes for flexible QR experiences, whether the customer scans or the merchant scans the code.

Benefits of QR code payments

Adopting QR code-based payments gives merchants clear advantages:

• Contactless and hygienic – customers simply scan to pay, avoiding shared devices.
  
  
• Speed and convenience – scanning is quick and allows customers to complete transactions without delays.
  
  
• Cost efficiency – no special hardware is required beyond a printed QR code.
  
  
• Flexibility – works with credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets.
  
  
• Real-time analytics – merchants can capture transaction data instantly.
  
  
• Improved customer experience – offering a preferred payment method increases satisfaction and sales.

Limitations and challenges

While QR codes are widely used, merchants should consider potential challenges:

• Dependence on smartphones – customers need a working mobile device.
  
  
• Printing and scanning issues – poor quality prints or low light can cause failed scans.
  
  
• Security risks – static QR codes are vulnerable to tampering.
  
  
• Consumer readiness – in some regions, customers may still prefer credit and debit cards.
  
  

How to get started with QR code payments

Choosing a payment platform

Merchants should select a payment service that supports multiple QR code payment methods, integrates with existing POS systems, and can handle settlement across currencies. Antom offers modes like order code, entry code, and user-presented payment to help merchants accept QR code payments both in-store and online.

Technical setup

1. Register and activate your merchant account.
   
   
2. Generate test QR codes in a sandbox environment.
   
   
3. Display QR codes on checkout pages, receipts, or digital screens.

Training and deployment

Rolling out QR code payments successfully requires preparation. Staff should be educated on how QR codes work, from helping customers scan to troubleshooting issues, such as poor lighting or camera focus.

Merchants also benefit from testing different scenarios before full deployment. Trying QR codes on printed invoices, at point-of-sale counters, and in mobile ordering flows helps confirm that customers can complete transactions without friction.

What makes QR codes a safe payment method

Security is central to QR code payment methods, and several measures are in place to protect both merchants and customers.

Encryption and tokenisation

When a customer scans the QR code, the transaction details are encrypted and replaced with tokens. This means sensitive card or account data is never exposed during the payment process, reducing the risk of interception.

Dynamic codes

Each code is generated for a single transaction and includes details such as order ID and transaction amount. Because the code is unique and time-limited, it cannot be reused or altered, which prevents fraudulent attempts to replay or copy a QR code.

Detection of fake QR codes

Secure payment apps and wallets are designed to recognise suspicious or altered codes, warning the user or blocking the attempt entirely. This protects customers from scams where a printed or digital code has been tampered with.

Compliance 

Compliance with standards such as PCI DSS and regulatory frameworks like PSD3 ensures that QR code payments meet the same rigorous requirements as credit and debit card transactions. For merchants, this means operating within trusted and regulated payment environments that strengthen customer confidence.

Trends and market insights

The QR code payment market is growing rapidly, valued at USD 12.54 billion in 2024 and projected to reach $USD 61.73 billion by 2033 — a 20% annual growth rate. Transactions hit $2.4 trillion in 2022 and are expected to reach $3 trillion by 2025, with mobile QR payments forecast to exceed $8 trillion by 2029.

Asia-Pacific currently leads with over 60% of global QR volume, fueled by smartphone use and digital wallets in countries like China. Adoption in the U.S. and Europe is also gaining speed, with nearly 100 million Americans expected to scan QR codes by 2025.

By the end of 2024, more than 1.5 billion people worldwide were expected to will be active QR code users. Millennials and Gen Z are driving this shift toward contactless payments in retail, dining, and entertainment, — pushing merchants to embrace QR codes as a mainstream payment method.