Ecosystem

A business ecosystem is a structure where multiple companies, services, technologies, and users interdependently create value - like Apple's ecosystem (iPhone + App Store + Apple Pay + iCloud).

QR codes uniquely span multiple ecosystems: payment (PayPay, WeChat Pay, UPI), authentication (TOTP, digital certificates), logistics (GS1, traceability), and marketing (analytics, CRM). QR codes serve as information entry points across all of them.

QR codes excel as a common interface because they are an open standard (ISO/IEC 18004) - freely generated and read by anyone, supporting interoperability across different ecosystems. GS1 Digital Link standardization aims to resolve user confusion from ecosystem-specific QR code usage differences.