News

Rikei Corporation (Head Office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Satoru Isaka; hereinafter “Rikei”), is pleased to announce that it signed distributor agreement with Sodyo Ltd. (Head Office: TEL-Aviv, Israel; CEO: Alon Raz; hereinafter “Sodyo”)　to start providing “FarQR”, Next-Generation QR code.

Product Outline

FarQR Code, next-generation QR code by Sodyo, have a detection range of about 100 times the size of the FarQR Code, compared to 10 times the size with legacy QR Codes. FarQR Code can be scanned by just viewers pointing their smartphone to TV screen while sitting on a couch and it can be read codes displayed on distant screens without moving nearby so it fits for TV program, CM, and OOH (*1) perfectly.

FarQR features not only expanded scanning range, but also code generation that fit arbitrary shape including logo of company brand. Furthermore, information scanned from FarQR, including “where”, “when”, and “which terminal used”, can be used for marketing analysis.

Market Background

It has been almost 10 years since the iPhone appeared in the Japanese market in 2008.

The ownership rate of personal smartphone in Japan is 60.9%, and more than one in two Japanese own a smartphone. In addition, many users operate smartphone while watching TV, and especially 78.4% of junior high/high school students aged 12 to 18 years old use smartphone and TV simultaneously. Although QR code is in widespread use in O2O (*2) that connect from TV program/OOH to internet via smartphone, it is inconvenience that people need to bring a smartphone closer to a QR code to focus on. “FarQR” solves this botheration.

Future Development

By becoming a distributor of Sodyo, Rikei will provide services that contribute to the improvement of customer experience (*3) for companies that desire to deepen bonds with customers through advertising. We will make proposals for a wide range of industries, such as the automobile industry, that develops electronic payments and autonomous driving technology, as well as companies that hope to lead CM and OOH to purchasing behavior.

(※1) OOH: Out of Home. A general term for advertising media such as traffic advertisements and outdoor advertisements that come into contact outside home.

(※2) O2O: Online to Offline. One of marketing scheme, aimed at encouraging off-line actions such as visiting a store or purchasing at a store.

(※3) Customer Experience: Refers not only to the monetary and material value of products and services, but also to the psychological and sensory values that are felt when using products and receiving services.

Using image of FarQR

• Sodyo Broadcast Solution

• Sodyo OOH Concept Video

Smartphone App (for iOS/Android)

Reference

• Ownership of Information and communication equipment | White Paper on Information and Communication in 2018 | Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

http://www.soumu.go.jp/johotsusintokei/whitepaper/ja/h30/html/nd252110.html

• Survey on media-device usage by consumers

https://d-marketing.yahoo.co.jp/entry/20180620511827.html

• Survey on Millennials’ utilization of TV/Smartphone

https://d-marketing.yahoo.co.jp/entry/20180620511827.html

• Survey on junior/high school student’s attitude toward news

https://mmdlabo.jp/investigation/detail_1780.html

About Sodyo Ltd.

Established in 2012, Sodyo develops FarQR solution, the next generation scanning technology. FarQR is an extended standard that supports scanning from a distance farther than QR codes, and is ideal for digital advertising on televisions/outdoors. QR codes can be read at distances up to 10 times the code size, on the other hand, FarQR can be done up to that of 100 times.

With reading capabilities far exceeding QR codes, Sodyo contribute to improving customer experience in industries including broadcaster, distribution/logistics, real estate, automobile, and electronic payment.

About Rikei Corporation

Established in 1957, Rikei Corporation is a solution provider for the IT and electronics industries.

Rikei offers a wide variety of solutions centered on the world’s cutting edge technologies and advanced products in the fields of system solutions, such as entrance exam and educational affairs systems and IT infrastructure, business strategy, and information security solutions. It also provides network solutions, such as satellite communication data transfer systems, digital video transfer systems, network systems for telecommunication operators and other private companies, wireless access systems, and disaster management information systems. In addition to solutions, Rikei provides electronic components and devices, such as high frequency components, high performance adhesives for industrial use, testers for automotive audio and navigation equipment, power grid analysis systems, defense-related machinery and security systems.

Product names and company names mentioned herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.