Tracking Scan Data
Every dynamic QR code you create automatically routes scanners through QRTRAC's tracking servers, gathering scan metadata before forwarding them to the destination — no setup required.
What does QRTRAC track?
- 📊 Total Scans — every scan event, including repeat visits from the same device
- 👤 Unique Scanners — individual devices, de-duplicated
- 📈 Scan trend — % change vs. the previous equivalent period
- 🗂️ QR Code Type breakdown — scans split by type (Website, Coupon, App Download, etc.)
- 📱 Device breakdown — Mac, Android, iOS, Windows
- 🏆 Top performing codes — ranked by scan volume with trend direction
- 🌍 Geography — City, State/Province, Country, and scan count per location
The Analytics Dashboard
To view analytics for a specific QR code, log into your QRTRAC dashboard, open the QR code, and click the Analytics tab. To view aggregate analytics across all your codes, go to the Analytics section from the main navigation.
You can filter all data by date range — the report compares your selected period against the equivalent previous period automatically.
Scans & Unique Scanners
Total Scans
4
↑ 100% than previous period
Every scan event, including multiple scans from the same device.
Unique Scanners
3
↑ 100% than previous period
Individual devices that scanned — de-duplicated across the period.
The % change figures always compare your selected date range against the equivalent period immediately before it. For example, if you're viewing Jan 1–21, the comparison is Dec 11–31.
Tip: The gap between Total Scans and Unique Scanners tells you how much re-engagement you're getting. A high ratio (e.g. 4 total / 3 unique = 1.33×) means some people are scanning more than once.
The Time-Series Graph
Below the summary numbers, a daily time-series chart plots both scan volume and unique scanners over your selected period. Use this to:
- Identify the exact date a campaign started generating traffic
- Spot drops that may indicate a broken destination URL
- Correlate scan spikes with offline events (flyer drops, trade shows, product launches)
- Compare repeat vs. new scanner patterns over time
Scans by QR Code Type
This section shows a breakdown of scan volume across every QR type you have active — useful when you manage multiple types within one campaign or account.
| Type | QR Codes Scanned | Scans | % of Scans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Site | 1 | 3 | 75.00% |
| Short Link | 1 | 1 | 25.00% |
This helps you understand which QR types are driving the most engagement — so you can double down on what works and identify underperforming types.
Scans by Device Used
QRTRAC captures the device type of every scanner. This data is essential for optimizing your landing page experience.
| Device Used | Scans | % of Scans |
|---|---|---|
| Android | 2 | 50.00% |
| Mac (iPhone/Safari) | 1 | 25.00% |
| Windows | 1 | 25.00% |
If Android dominates, test your destination page in Chrome on Android. If Mac/iOS leads, prioritize Safari compatibility. When Windows appears, it often indicates desktop users who clicked a shared QR link rather than scanning it physically — useful context for understanding how your code is spreading.
Top Performing QR Codes
This ranked table shows which individual QR codes received the most scans during your selected period, along with their trend direction.
| Rank | Name | Scans | Trend | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mini Site | 3 | — | 75.00% |
| 2 | Product Landing Page | 1 | — | 25.00% |
The Trend column shows whether a code is gaining (↑) or losing (↓) scan volume compared to the previous period. A dash (—) means this is its first period with data.
Scans by City
Geographic data is derived from the scanner's IP address and broken down by city, state/province, and country. This is particularly valuable for:
- Verifying that a locally-printed campaign is reaching its target region
- Discovering unexpected scan locations — which may reveal organic sharing
- Planning where to increase physical distribution
| City | State / Province | Country | Scans | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru | Karnataka | India | 3 | 75.00% |
| Rocky River | Ohio | United States | 1 | 25.00% |
IP-Based Location
By default, city-level location is derived from the scanner's IP address — not GPS. VPN users may appear in unexpected cities. Enable the GPS Advanced Setting for precise coordinates.
GPS Precision Tracking
When you enable the GPS Advanced Setting on a QR code, scanners are prompted to share their device location. Instead of an IP-derived city estimate, QRTRAC captures latitude and longitude coordinates — precise to roughly 10–15 metres. This data is included in your CSV/XLSX raw export alongside every other scan attribute.
| QR Name | QR Type | Scanned On | Device / OS | Browser | City | Postcode | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Menu | Restaurant Menu | 3/22/2026, 2:15 PM | Samsung / Android | Chrome | San Francisco, CA | 94110 | 37.7599 | -122.4148 |
| Event Poster | Website URL | 3/22/2026, 6:44 PM | Apple / iOS | Safari | London, England | EC1A | 51.5194 | -0.1270 |
| Staff Card — James | Digital Business Card | 3/22/2026, 9:02 AM | OPPO / Android | Mumbai, Maharashtra | 400017 | 19.0748 | 72.8856 |
GPS coordinates open up use cases that city-level IP data cannot support — such as mapping exactly which store location or trade show booth generated the most scans, or verifying that outdoor advertising placements are reaching foot traffic in the right area.
Note: The scanner's browser will ask for location permission when they open your QR destination. Scans where permission is denied will still be recorded — they will just use IP-based city estimation instead of GPS coordinates.
Exporting Your Analytics Report
QRTRAC can export your analytics as a formatted PDF report or as raw data for custom analysis.
PDF Report Export
The PDF export generates a client-ready visual report that includes:
- Summary metrics (total scans, unique scanners, % change vs previous period)
- Time-series scan graphs
- Scans by QR Code Type table
- Scans by Device Used table
- Top Performing QR Codes ranked table
- Scans by City breakdown
If you have white-label configured, your brand name appears in the report header instead of QRTRAC.
CSV / XLSX Export
Raw scan data can be exported as CSV or Excel for custom analysis in tools like Google Sheets, Excel, or BI dashboards. Each row represents one scan event. The following fields are included:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| QR Id | Unique identifier for the QR code |
| QR Name | The name you gave the QR code in your dashboard |
| QR Type | Type of QR code (e.g. VCARD, PDF, IMAGE_GALLERY, RESTAURANT_MENU) |
| User Id | Anonymous scanner identifier for deduplication |
| Scanned On | Timestamp of the scan event (date and time) |
| Device | Device brand (e.g. Apple, Samsung, OPPO, OnePlus) |
| OS | Operating system (iOS, Android, Mac OS, Windows) |
| Browser | Browser or app used to open the QR (Chrome, Safari, Instagram, Facebook, Edge) |
| Country | Country derived from IP address |
| State | State or province |
| City | City derived from IP address |
| Suburb | Suburb or district (where available) |
| Postcode | Postal / ZIP code |
| Latitude | GPS latitude — populated when GPS Advanced Setting is enabled and permission granted |
| Longitude | GPS longitude — same condition as Latitude |
| IP | Anonymised IP address of the scanner |
Tip: To generate a report for a client, set the date range to match their campaign period, then export as PDF. The report header automatically shows the selected date range.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Total Scans and Unique Scanners?
Total Scans counts every scan event — including repeat visits from the same device. Unique Scanners counts each device only once per period. If one person scans your QR 3 times, that's 3 Total Scans but 1 Unique Scanner.
How is the % change calculated?
The % change compares your selected date range against the equivalent length period immediately before it. For example, if you select January 1–21 (21 days), the comparison period is December 11–31 (the prior 21 days).
How accurate is the city-level location data?
Location is derived from the scanner's IP address and is accurate to the city level in most cases. Users on a VPN may appear in a different city or country. For precise GPS tracking, enable the GPS Advanced Setting on your QR code.
Can I share analytics with a client or team member?
Yes. Export the analytics as a PDF report to share with clients — it includes all charts and tables in a clean presentation format. For ongoing access, team members can be added to your QRTRAC account with view permissions.
How long is scan data retained?
Data retention depends on your plan. Raw scan-level data is retained for a minimum of 12 months on paid plans. Aggregate graph data is always preserved regardless of plan.