How to Create a Smart Redirect QR Code
A Smart Redirect QR code sends scanners to a different URL based on rules you define — the date range, the current month, the day of the week, the time of day, or any combination. One QR code, many destinations.
How Smart Redirects Work
Every Smart Redirect QR code has a default URL and a list of rules. When the code is scanned, QRSpike evaluates your rules in order — the first rule that matches the current date and time wins, and the scanner is sent to that rule's URL. If no rule matches, the scanner is sent to the default URL.
Rules are evaluated in the timezone you choose for the QR code, so "9:00 AM weekdays" really means 9:00 AM in your local time — not the scanner's local time, and not UTC.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Log in to your QRSpike account and go to your Dashboard.
- Click the Create QR Code button.
- Choose Smart Redirect from the QR code type picker.
- Enter a descriptive name and the default URL — this is where scanners go when no rule matches.
- Customize the Color, Background Color, Icon, and Border settings as desired.
- Click Save & Open Redirect Rules (for a new code) or open the Advanced tab and click Open Redirect Rules (for an existing code).
- Pick the QR code's Timezone at the top of the Rules page.
- Add rules in two groups:
- Holiday & Date Range Rules — for promos, sales, and holiday windows. These win over recurring rules.
- Recurring Rules — month, day-of-week, and time-of-day matching. First match wins.
- Drag the handle on the left of any rule to reorder. The order is the priority order — top wins ties.
Use Cases
Store Hours
Send scanners to your menu or product catalog during open hours, and to a "see you tomorrow" page after close. Different rules for weekends and weekdays.
Holiday Promos
Set a date-range rule for Black Friday week or your seasonal sale. The QR code automatically reverts to your normal landing page when the promo ends — no reprinting required.
Day-of-Week Menus
A restaurant could point Monday through Thursday at the weekday menu, Friday and Saturday at the weekend menu, and Sunday at a brunch page — all from a single QR code on the table tent.
Time-of-Day Routing
Direct morning scans to a breakfast page, midday scans to lunch, evening to dinner. Or route after-hours scans to a contact form instead of your live chat.
Reporting
Smart Redirect codes are tracked just like Website-with-Tracking codes. From the Reports page, open the Smart Redirect Report to see scan activity over time plus a breakdown of which rules were matched in the selected period.
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