Wang Yue, Founder of Inspiry, Says that Japan is on the Verge of the Next Big Stage of Development for 2D Barcodes

Wang Yue, China's "Father of the 2D Barcode", makes the bold prediction that the growth in 2D barcode adoption for payment scenarios worldwide is about to explode, and Japan will be at the vanguard

TOKYO, July 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Wang Yue, a Chinese entrepreneur, is known in China as the father of the two-dimensional (or 2D) barcode. He first became aware of QR codes, a type of 2D barcode, seventeen years ago. He quickly became convinced that the 2D barcode would make a widespread impact on the world and went on to establish a firm specializing in 2D barcode technology.

2D barcodes are now one of the preferred payment methods in China. The majority of the 2D barcodes that consumers use as a payment method today are derived from the QR code first designed in Japan. Mr. Wang said that Japanese companies could be instrumental in unleashing the huge potential of QR code worldwide.

In November 2001, Mr. Wang, who was an engineer at a Tokyo-based company, noticed that Japanese hospitals were using QR codes, a type of 2D barcode first invented by Japan-based DENSO Corporation.

He noted that the 2D barcode could store substantially more data than traditional or 1D barcodes and that the 2D barcode was already being deployed in professional applications. At the same time, DoCoMo rolled out a smartphone featuring a camera. Mr Wang predicted that once smartphones could support a 2D barcode engine, the smartphone camera would be able to scan 2D barcodes, opening the door to more convenient methods of communication. He foresaw that 2D barcodes would someday be a real gamechanger.

He said, "That day is not far off. At the time, Japan was ready to embrace the smartphone era, with China soon to follow."

In 2002, Mr. Wang returned to Beijing to establish Beijing Inspiry Technology Co., Ltd., and began development of 2D barcode technology. In 2003, he developed 2D barcode engines and several 2D barcode standards for Japanese companies. In 2008, he created the first mobile 2D barcode engine capable of generating 2D barcodes on smartphones.

Since 2012, when smartphones started to become universal, Tencent, Alibaba, and other internet firms, launched QR code payment services which instantly became popular in China. According to publicly available data, 463 million Chinese internet users now pay with their smartphones when they go shopping.

Mr. Wang is hailed as the "father of the 2D barcode" by Chinese media organizations in view of his 17-year (and still counting) commitment to 2D barcode technology and its applications. Inspiry created the first self-service code scan and payment terminal Smart Box, which is now widely used across the country, and they continue to grow as 2D barcodes become a major payment method in China. 

He said, "Japan inspired me to start my own business." Inspiry is now working closely with several organizations in Japan as well as with Alipay, among other international mobile payment brands, to boost the growth of 2D barcode payment technology, principally in Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and the wider Asia region.

Mr. Wang pointed out that Japan, where the QR code was invented, now boasts a well-established 2D barcode industry chain. He added, "Japan should seize the opportunities emerging in the global 2D barcode payment market. With a proven track record of expanding their presence across the world, Japanese firms are well positioned to further boost the adoption of 2D barcode payment services worldwide."  

Media Contact

Hu Jie 
+81 8039151125
hujie@insipiry.cn