Weekly consumer searches for "QR Code" topic on Google in Germany 2018-2023

Google search behavior on the topic of QR codes in Germany peaked in the summer of 2021, with interest in the topic generally being stable since. QR codes have different utilities, but in this context are generally associated with contactless (tap to pay) payments with smartphones or wearable devices. Germany's interest in QR codes largely seems to come from its digital vaccine certificate. The Corona-Warn-App or CWA was rolled out in the summer of 2021 and was mandatory when one wanted to access a restaurant, attend an event, or travel. Domestic transaction figures for QR payments are difficult to find, making it difficult to separate whether the interest in the QR code topic stems from the coronavirus app or from a genuine interest in QR for, for example, payments. Most figures on the topic come from consumer surveys and focus on the share of respondents who used such a payment method or not.