QR codes are now part of the basic digital infrastructure of modern companies. They often represent the interface between digital and analog corporate strategy.
When it comes to the strategic use of QR codes, companies are faced with a choice:
Option 1: Internal development of your own QR code and redirect system
Option 2: Use of a specialized, scalable SaaS platform such as QR Planet
Which is the more economical, safer, and sustainable solution in the long term?
This article offers you a clear, business-oriented perspective.
Total costs: Build vs Buy
Many companies underestimate the effort involved in setting up their own QR code system. Developing a prototype is easy—creating a stable product is not.
In-House
- High initial investment (development, architecture, and design)
- Ongoing costs for hosting, monitoring, backups, and bug fixing
- Valuable internal resources are tied up (sometimes for the long term)
- Every functional enhancement leads to additional effort
- Full responsibility for further development and safety
SaaS solution
- No development effort
- Planned and scalable, transparent costs
- Ready for immediate use
- Continuous updates and innovations
- Fully managed infrastructure
Conclusion
In almost all cases. an internal system ends up being more expensive with a higher risk—especially in the long term.
Risk and failure safety (business continuity)
QR codes are often used on packaging, products, printed materials, or in advertising. A failing QR Code scan is not only annoying—it reduces sales and, in the worst case, damages the brand's reputation.
- Dependence on internal developers/knowledge carriers
- Single server = single point of failure
- Own responsibility for redundancies and load balancing
- Frequent delays in troubleshooting (weekends, vacations, priority conflicts)
QR Planet SaaS
- Redundant server infrastructure & automatic failover
- Load balancing and CDN
- High performance worldwide
- Monitoring of all systems 24/7
- Over 15 years of practical experience
An hour of downtime in your internal system can cost more than a year's subscription to our SaaS.
Range of functions: From basic redirect to Enterprise features
Companies grow, and so do the demands placed on them. An internal DIY system quickly reaches its limits.
QR Planet offers the following by default:
- Dynamic QR codes
- Global scan statistics
- Geolocation, device analysis, time series
- API & Integration
- Bulk handling for thousands of QR codes
- Rights & role management for teams
- GDPR tools, anonymization, data retention
- QR landing pages without the need (but including the option) for your own programming
- Security features (password, expiration dates, domain locking)
In-House
To achieve this range of functions, your team would have to invest months—probably years—of work, and then wait and maintain it.
Decision-maker's perspective
Why develop features internally that are immediately available externally, stable, and cost-effective?
Security, data protection, and compliance
Data protection is not a technical footnote; any shortcomings represent a business risk that should not be underestimated.
You are fully responsible for:
- GDPR-Compliance
- Data processing and deletion concepts
- Security updates
- Audit logs
- Access controls
- Penetration Testing
SaaS advantages with QR Planet
- Hosting within the European Union
- Complete and comprehensive GDPR compliance
- Anonymized tracking options
- Regular security updates
- Proven compliance processes
Internal systems are often functional, but rarely stand up to audits.With QR Planet, you have a reliable, auditable partner at your side.
Time-to-market and agility
Marketing, product teams, and operations require flexibility.
- Every small change leads to a ticket
- Dependence on internal developers
- Long release cycles
- Delays cost revenue and opportunities
QR Planet SaaS
- Features ready for immediate use
- Self-service without IT burden
- Flexible campaign management
- Ideal for teams that need to work quickly
Companies rolling out faster are more likely to gain additional market shares.
Scalability and Future-proofing
An internal system often meets requirements in the first year. In the third year, it becomes a legacy problem; in the fifth, a risk.
In today's era of "vibe coding," it's tempting to ask AI agents to develop a dynamic QR code solution. While these AI tools are great for prototyping, they don't offer neither the consistency and scalability, nor the robust handling of edge cases that are essential for Enterprise-level infrastructure.
QR Planet
- Over 15 years of experience
- Continuous development
- Thousands of customers, millions of scans
- Stable scaled architecture
Decision-maker perspective
You're not just buying software—you're buying future security.
Conclusion: The more economically and technically sensible decision
If your company uses QR codes strategically, an internal system is rarely the better option.The economic advantages, technical stability, and security benefits of a professional SaaS solution clearly outweigh the disadvantages.
QR Planet is the right choice for companies...
- needing a quick rollout,
- wanting to control costs,
- takinging compliance seriously,
- seeking to protect internal resources,
- wishing for scalability without risk,
- requiring a durable, reliable QR infrastructure.
Your core business is not operating your own QR system.
Ours is.
Overview
The following table provides a concise overview of the key differences between in-house development and QR Planet. It clearly shows how costs, resource requirements, risks, and scope of services differ between the two approaches—and which solution offers greater stability and efficiency in the long term.
| Category | In-House | QR Planet |
|---|
| Total Operating Costs | High and unpredictable: initial investments and ongoing costs. | Predictable and transparent: no development effort, ready for immediate use, infrastructure included. |
| Corporate Resources | Ties up internal resources for (further) development and maintenance for years. | Protects internal resources and allows your teams to focus on their core activities. |
| Risk & Continuity | Single point of failure with specific internal knowledge; slow troubleshooting. | Redundant server infrastructure with automatic failover, load balancing, and 24/7 monitoring. |
| Range of Functions | Simple and slow: Either limited to "simple forwarding" or very high development costs. | Enterprise-ready: dynamic QR Codes, statistics, geo-location, bulk processing, API, and ready-made landing pages. |
| Security & Compliance | High risks: You bear full responsibility for GDPR compliance, security updates, audit logs, access controls, and pen tests. | Auditable and secure: Hosting in the EU, GDPR-compliant, anonymized tracking options, and proven compliance processes. |
| Time-to-Market | Slow and inflexible: changes require ticket submissions; long release cycles. Delays can lead to lost revenue. | Agile and available: The self-service platform enables your teams to act quickly without burdening IT. |
| Scalability | Medium-term burden: Systems developed today often become "legacy burdens" within a few years and later turn into real risks. | Long-term security: Based on a stable, scaled architecture built on more than 15 years of experience and millions of scans. |