6 Industries That Are Embracing Innovation with the Bitly Connections Platform

6 Industries That Are Embracing Innovation with the Bitly Connections Platform

The words Imagine the Possibitlyties on a dark blue background.
The words Imagine the Possibitlyties on a dark blue background.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to connecting with your audience—all it takes is a little imagination to ignite that spark. Thanks to the Bitly Connections Platform, businesses across all industries, from retail to food and beverage and education to healthcare, have discovered new ways of building meaningful connections with their customers every day. Whether it’s tracking a package, redeeming rewards, or growing social followers, each click or scan brings you just a bit closer to your customer. 

Here at Bitly, we empower more than 500,000 global businesses and brands to use our products in new and powerful ways. We wanted to shine a light on just how innovative our customers are by taking a look at seven different industries that are using the Bitly Connections Platform—Short Links, QR Codes, and Bitly Link-in-bio—to make more connections possible. 

Hop on this journey and “Imagine the Possi(Bitly)ties” with us!

A large poster featuring Record Store Day how they had success with Bitly Link-in-bio.

Retailers are faced with a number of challenges, from increased competition to changes in consumer preferences and the rising costs of goods. In order to remain competitive, retailers are finding new ways to connect with customers both in-store and online. By utilizing Bitly Short Links and Bitly QR Codes, retailers are coming up with creative and inventive ways to reward loyal customers, grow their followers across social media, promote limited-time discounts, and offer up information about their products. 

Rad Power Bikes, North America’s largest electric bike brand, is using Bitly QR Codes to transform and streamline the customer experience across all of its retail locations. By adding QR Codes to hang tags and signage in-store, Rad Power Bikes points customers directly to corresponding product pages on the brand’s website where they can review compatibility details and explore accessories. They’re streamlining ebike rentals and service appointments by making it easy to sign up with the scan of a code, and are integrating Bitly QR Codes across marketing campaigns to encourage action.

And for Daily Harvest, a company that makes chef-crafted frozen food, they’re incorporating Bitly QR Codes onto freezer door clings across Kroger grocery stores in the U.S. to enhance customer experiences as they make their way into retail locations. Daily Harvest is giving customers a taste of what they have to offer and highlighting their commitment to sustainability by donating $5 for every scan to support regenerative farming efforts.

Did you know? On average, retail users generate 598,160 daily connections (clicks and scans) by using Bitly to promote sales, reward loyal customers, and grow followers on social media.

Direct-to-consumer brands are connecting offline with Bitly QR Codes

As consumer behavior continues to evolve, the direct-to-consumer industry is transforming to meet the changing demands and expectations of customers around the world. And while creating value for customers through high-quality products is critical to success, brands also need to provide exceptional experiences across every customer touchpoint. Innovative brands are embracing technology to adapt and reach customers both online and offline. 

Direct-to-consumer brand Smalls is doing just that—they’re not only rewriting cat food standards to bring more nutritious meals to cats everywhere, but they’re also bringing that passion for innovation to every customer interaction. From encouraging registrations for in-person events to driving engagement through subway advertisements across New York City, Smalls is using Bitly QR Codes to connect with cat care enthusiasts wherever they are.

And for skincare company Curology, they’re using Bitly QR Codes to elevate customer experiences and ensure the seamless integration of its skincare products into their customers’ daily lives. They’re using Bitly QR Codes on product packaging and universal package inserts to share ingredient information and offer up free samples, making it easy to interact with the brand long after purchase.

Did you know? Curology uses Bitly QR Codes to turn 200,000 unboxing moments into opportunities to boost brand loyalty. Find out how they’re elevating skincare experiences with Bitly.

Breweries are leveraging Bitly QR Codes to engage with patrons

The food and beverage industry quickly adopted new ways of doing business during the pandemic by means of necessity. They transformed what the customer experience looked like with contactless menus and the creation of new ordering opportunities. And while many businesses simply pivoted to using Bitly QR Codes as a way for customers to access menus, we’re also seeing many more creative QR Code use cases pop up as the masses have grown so familiar with the experience.

Modus Brewing, an independently-owned brewery based in Australia, uses Bitly QR Codes on beer cans, packaging, and posters throughout their brewery to drive more engagement with customers at every touchpoint. They even used Bitly QR Codes to help put one of their beers on the map in Australia. Cheers to that!

Did you know? Modus Brewing used Bitly QR Codes to turn 16,207 scans into a nationally recognized, award-winning beer. Learn more about how they are leading the pack with their beers in Australia.

Three orange beer cans from Modus brewing.
Photo provided by Modus Brewing.

From wearables and office supplies to tech gadgets and drinkware, the promotional product industry has something for every brand or business. Ensuring the smooth production and delivery of these products is one way to get repeat customers, but being able to generate millions of unique, trusted links at scale across all communications is equally important. Successful promotional product suppliers like the Koozie Group know that creating an amazing experience goes beyond simply offering the perfect item for any occasion. That’s why they’re leading the charge by ensuring the hundreds of thousands of order updates they send every month are secure and reliable by using Bitly Short Links.

Did you know? Koozie Group securely sends 300,000 order updates to distributors with Bitly Short Links every month. Learn more about how they’re making scalability and security a top priority with Bitly.

Photo provided by Koozie Group.

Schools are giving students easy access to e-textbooks with Bitly QR Codes

Universities and schools are embracing innovation when it comes to providing more dynamic and interactive learning experiences for students. As technology continues to become an integral part of our everyday lives, educational institutions are using Bitly QR Codes and Short Links to provide students with access to course materials, to gather feedback, and to promote important events. Students are waving goodbye to back pain now that they no longer have to lug around heavy (and expensive) textbooks as the education industry evolves to integrate more e-textbooks into the mix. This is not only more convenient and cost-effective, but it also means less waste as textbooks become outdated over time. It’s a win-win for all!

Did you know? On average, schools and universities generate 720,326 daily connections (clicks and scans) by using Bitly to provide students with quick and easy access to course materials, gather feedback and promote important events.

The music industry is incredibly fast-paced and never stops evolving. With that evolution naturally comes the need for change. Independently-owned record stores around the world are embracing technology and social media to build a sense of community, to bring more value to their customers, and to bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds. Indie record stores are showcasing the enduring appeal of both physical music formats like records and live music experiences by spreading information to the masses in easy-to-use formats, like with Bitly Link-in-bio. Record Store Day, an organization that celebrates the culture of indie record stores all year long, uses Bitly Link-in-bio to share relevant, timely information about special events, new releases, contests, and more each and every day—and fans are tuning in in droves.

Did you know? Record Store Day uses Bitly Link-in-bio to spread the love for 1,436 indie record stores around the world. Find out how they’re leading the charge on building connections with Bitly.

A large group of people browsing records at a record store.
Photo provided by Record Store Day.

One thing is true across all industries—making it easy for your customers to connect with your business should always be a priority. With the Bitly Connections Platform, customers can shorten and customize links, create QR Codes, curate their Bitly Link-in-bio, and track performance all from one place. Feeling inspired? Get started today.