Precision Geolocation: GPS Scan Locations for Your QR Codes

What This Guide Helps You Do

Every scan of a dynamic QR code is located from the scanner's network (IP address), which is accurate to about a city. Precision Geolocation adds an optional step: the scanner's browser is asked to share its GPS position, so you can see where a printed code is actually being scanned.

You will learn:

1. The difference between network location and GPS location.
2. How to switch Precision Geolocation on.
3. What scanners see.
4. What your analytics show.
5. What POPIA expects of you.

---

Network Location vs. GPS Location

• Network location (every scan): the country, region and city of the scanner's IP address. On mobile data this can be wrong, because a phone's traffic may leave the network in a different city.
• GPS location (Precision Geolocation): the latitude and longitude the scanner's phone reports, when the scanner allows it. Accuracy depends on the phone and its GPS signal.

Precision Geolocation works on dynamic codes only, because the location is captured while the scan passes through QR Code Pro.

---

Step 1: Switch It On

1. Open the Generator (/generate), or edit an existing dynamic QR code.
2. In step 3, open the advanced settings.
3. Turn on Precision Geolocation.
4. Save the code.

Precision Geolocation is included in the Pro+, Pro++, Team, Team+, Team++ and Enterprise plans. The 14-day trial has the same features as Pro, so it does not include it. Compare plans on the pricing page.

---

Step 2: What the Scanner Sees

1. A short page explains: "The owner of this code measures where it is scanned. Your browser will ask for permission. You can continue without sharing."
2. The phone's own location prompt appears.
3. If the scanner allows it, the coordinates are recorded and they continue to your destination.
4. If they refuse, tap Continue without sharing, or nothing happens within 15 seconds, they continue anyway. The scan is still counted with its network location.

---

Step 3: Read the Results

1. Go to Analytics (/analytics) and open the geography section.
2. The Precision GPS Logs table lists up to 10 locations with the most scans: the place name, the coordinates (latitude, longitude) and the number of scans.
3. Scans where the scanner did not share a GPS position appear with their network location, accurate to about a city.

This is how a real estate agency, restaurant group or outdoor advertiser can see which sign, table or billboard is being scanned.

---

POPIA and Privacy

GPS coordinates are location data. Each scan is stored with its coordinates, the IP address it came from, the device type and the time, so treat them as personal information under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA):

1. Tell people: your privacy notice should say that you measure scan locations.
2. Ask first: scanners are always asked and can continue without sharing; do not make your offer depend on it.
3. Use it for its purpose: use the locations to measure your campaigns, not to identify individuals.

For more detail, read the POPIA and GDPR Compliance Handbook.