News & Initiatives

First Displays QR Codes at Bus Stops Across Greater Glasgow

Monday 16 January 2012

First Glasgow, the city's biggest bus operator, is now displaying QR codes at bus stops across Greater Glasgow to help customers instantly access its website when on the move.

First customers can now scan a QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response code) at bus stops and instantly visit a mobile version of the www.firstgroup.com/ukbus website on any supported phone.

The QR code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background - so look out for it at a bus stop near you. To get scanning, first make sure your phone can scan a QR code with its camera, either with an application that you download or via software that is already installed on your phone. To find out what application to use for your phone, try doing a Google search for the model of your phone along with 'QR reader'.

When you see a QR code in your local bus stop, use your phone's application which will utilise the camera on your phone to scan it. You'll quickly be taken to First's homepage www.firstgroup.com/ukbus which incorporates all First's operating company websites and currently attracts in the region of 325,000 visits from mobile users per month (in total First UK Bus receives almost 1.5million website visits per month). First expects the use of QR codes directing customers to the mobile website to help increase visits to around 400,000 in the medium to long term.

"Displaying QR codes in bus stops is our latest initiative to improve our service offering to customers," said Alex Shearer, Commercial Director of First Glasgow. "Increasingly our customers are using smart phones to access service updates and timetable information online. Displaying a QR code next to our timetable information at bus stops makes that process quicker and easier."

The introduction of QR codes at bus stops is the latest example of First Glasgow opening up new channels of communication with customers.

Emma Latimer, PR Manager for First Glasgow said: "I am always looking for new ways to attract more visitors to our website and thought it would be a good idea to put QR codes in bus stops.

"The QR codes have been printed on vinyl stickers, suitable to withstand the elements, and when scanned using a smart phone the customer is taken directly to our mobile website where they can get information about service updates, timetables, news and initiatives. We use over 5,000 bus stops around Greater Glasgow and since early January our QR code has been displayed next to our timetable information at the majority of the stops."

One of First Glasgow's followers on Twitter, MartinGsq, tweeted: "Interesting development. @FirstinGlasgow rolls out QR codes to city's bus stops. Hopefully other cities will follow."

First Glasgow is pioneering the use of QR codes in bus stops and it is intended that more QR codes will be rolled out in bus stops and on bus posters across the country.

Keep up-to-date with First news and service information via Twitter at www.twitter.com/firstinglasgow

First customers can use smartphones to scan QR codes at Glasgow bus stops (PDF - 1.23 MB)