Creating a QR code

An official WhatsApp QR code is created through the WhatsApp Business Platform for a connected business number. It is not a regular image with a link and not the official account badge. Meta generates the QR code itself, the prefilled message, and the chat link, which you can then manage.

After scanning, WhatsApp opens for the customer with a ready-made message. The customer reviews it and taps “Send”. Only after they send it does Airi.chat identify the matching QR code and start the scenario linked to it.

Airi.chat automatically appends a service identifier like [Ref: XXXXX-XXXXX] to the message. It helps distinguish conversations from different packaging, checkout counters, events, or ads. Scanning alone does not start automation and does not count as a conversation.

Why QR codes matter

A QR code shortens the path from a physical touchpoint to a chat:

The customer does not need to type or save a number.
WhatsApp opens immediately with a clear request.
Airi.chat knows where the customer came from.
Each placement can start a separate scenario: a consultation, registration, promotion, support, or feedback collection.

Create a separate QR code for each placement. For example: “New product packaging”, “Store checkout at Mega”, and “Exhibition booth”. If one QR code is used everywhere, you will not be able to tell those sources apart.

Real examples from Meta

Domino’s Pizza Indonesia. QR codes were placed on pizza boxes. After scanning, the customer opened WhatsApp, uploaded a receipt, and joined the loyalty program. Across the full WhatsApp program, the company reported a 72% sales increase, 6.3x ROI, and about 3,000 active WhatsApp customers each week.

Vita Green. Scanning the QR code launched a mini-game in WhatsApp, after which the customer received a coupon. WhatsApp coupons were used 4 times more often than coupons from other channels. In some campaigns, the redemption rate reached 33%.

Aeroporti di Roma. QR codes were placed on flight screens, LED panels, parking areas, and airport buses. They led to a virtual assistant in WhatsApp. From July 2025 to May 2026, the service handled more than 1 million conversations, and the average rating among 128,000 surveyed passengers was 4.55 out of 5.

These results were reported by the companies themselves and apply to full WhatsApp solutions, not QR codes alone. They show possible use cases and do not guarantee the same numbers.

How to create a QR code in Airi.chat

The workspace must have a WhatsApp Business number connected. You also need a manager, admin, or owner role. Users with read-only access can view, copy, and download codes that already exist.

Step 1. Open the QR codes section

Go to WhatsApp Manager → WhatsApp Chat QR codes.

image: the WhatsApp Chat QR codes section in the WhatsApp Manager menu

Step 2. Start creating

Click Create chat QR.

image: the Create chat QR button

Step 3. Fill in the settings

Enter:

WhatsApp source: the number where the chat should open.
Placement name: an internal name that helps you find the code later. For example, “Product X packaging” or “Checkout #1”.
Prefilled message: the text the customer sees after scanning. For example: “I want to learn more about the packaging promotion”.

The message can be up to 120 characters. The Airi.chat service identifier is added automatically.

gif: choosing a WhatsApp number, filling in the placement name and prefilled message

Step 4. Create the code

Click Create chat QR. Airi.chat sends a request to Meta and opens the page for the finished QR code.

Step 5. Review and download

On the QR code page you can:

download PNG;
download SVG;
copy the WhatsApp link;
test the link before placing it.

image: the finished QR code and the PNG, SVG, Copy WhatsApp link, and Test WhatsApp link actions

PNG and SVG formats, link copying, and a test open are available directly on the QR code page.

How to link a QR code to a scenario

The created QR code already opens a WhatsApp chat. To start Airi.chat automation after the message:

Create or open a scenario and save it.
Add a WhatsApp QR start block.
Click Choose a Chat QR code.
Select the code you created.
Add the actions you need and activate the scenario.

gif: adding a WhatsApp QR trigger, choosing the created code, and activating the scenario

One QR code can be bound to at most one trigger. Automation starts only after the customer sends the prefilled message. To activate the scenario, the selected QR code must have Ready status.

What to check before placing it

Open the QR code from another phone, send the prefilled message without deleting the service line, and confirm that the correct scenario starts.

Put a clear call to action next to the QR code:

Scan the QR code and send the ready-made message in WhatsApp.

This matters: scanning alone is not enough. The customer must tap Send.