Launch Deeplinks and QR Code Overview

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• How the Deeplink and QR Code Works
• How Deeplink and QR Code Generation Works

Deeplinks are special links that can direct users to specific content within the Driftscape app. They work regardless of what device the user is using (mobile phone or computer), and whether or not they already have the Driftscape app installed. Deeplinks can direct users to a customer’s custom menu, all of a specific customer’s content, a specific POI, and more. 

With the launch of your Organization’s content in the Driftscape app, our team will create  one main deeplink and QR code for you.  In addition to this main deeplink that we create for you, your contract may include unlimited deeplinks that your team can create. Check with your Driftscape customer success representative for more details.

How the Deeplink and QR Code Works

For users WITHOUT the app already downloaded: When a user who does NOT already have the app installed clicks on the deeplink/scans the QR code from a mobile phone, they will be directed to download the app first. Once downloaded and launched, the app will show a view exclusively of all your content ONLY, while hiding all other Organizations.  The user will only see ALL content after they choose the ‘See Everything’ option in the app menu.

For users WITH the app already downloaded: When a user clicks the deeplink/scans the QR code, the app will show a view exclusively of all your content ONLY, while hiding all other Organizations.  The user will only see ALL content after they choose the ‘See Everything’ option in the app menu.

For users accessing the deeplink from a computer: When a user clicks the deeplink from a computer, they will see ONLY your content in Driftscape for Web, if Driftscape for Web is included in your plan. 

How Deeplink and QR Code Generation Works

Your Organization and Points of Interest (POIs) must be live in the Driftscape app for at least four weeks before we can generate your deeplink and QR Code.  This helps avoid sync delays in the app when users click the deeplink or scan the QR Code.  Please see this article on How sync updates can negatively impact content launches

If a deeplink clicked by a User does NOT have the associated Organization or POIs present, the app will begin synchronizing the content with the Driftscape server. After that sync process is completed, the deeplink/QR Code will then be active. The speed of this synchronization can vary depending on how recently the app was used by a particular user, and on how fast their internet speed is (data synchronization happens automatically in the background when the app is open).

For example: if a user downloads the app for the very first time using your deeplink/QR Code and your Organizations/POIs only recently went live in the app, it may take a few minutes for the content associated with this  deeplink to be displayed.

Driftscape publishes new updated versions of our mobile apps regularly.  When these apps get updated, they include a new ‘data drop’ of new public data in the Driftscape server. If your content went live before this data drop/app update process, then a user downloading the app for the first time using your deeplink or QR code will instantly see your content without having to wait (since the associated organization and/or POIs will already be present in the app).

Please note that we do not update the mobile apps (with new data drops) on an as-requested basis. Thus we recommend planning your deeplink usage, and giving us at least four weeks lead time prior to the public launch of the associated content before you intend them to be actively used.

One way to work around this limitation is to create ‘placeholder’ public POIs that you intend to use with deeplinks and marketing campaigns. Since the POI will be part of the most recent app sync (or part of the next mobile app store update), the deeplink action will happen immediately. If subsequent updates are made to the POI with new content, the user will immediately see the correct content as it is not part of the synchronization process.

For information on QR code generation, please review this article on Generating QR Codes.