Overview
Required subscription: The Universal Badge Scanner is only available to Teams on the Event Lead Capture (ELC) tier. The Digital Business Card (DBC) plan alone does not include badge scanning; the ELC tier is required.
Our Universal Badge Scanner is your one-stop solution to capture leads from any event badge. No special hardware, no event app headaches. Just scan → enrich → save → sync.
By mastering this tool:
Reps scan faster and walk away with richer, cleaner lead data.
Admins increase speed to lead, drive consistency across the team, and ensure CRM-ready information for follow-up.
Quick-start in under 30 seconds
Open the Popl app → tap Scan → select Event Badge
Scan the full badge (not just the QR code)
Add qualifiers + notes while you’re talking
AI data enrichment should complete in 5-15 seconds after scanning
Save at any time, even before enrichment completes
Watch a quick demo here:
Offline? Popl can still save leads, just reopen the app when you’re back online and data enrichment will pick up right where it left off. See how offline mode works here.
How to use the Universal Badge Scanner
Step 1: Open the scanner
Open the mobile Popl App
Tap the Scan icon (bottom center)
Select Event Badge
Step 2: Scan the entire badge (this matters)
Position your phone so the entire badge is visible in-frame, not just the QR code.
Important: Scanning only the QR code will not work.
Full badge = full enrichment.
For enrichment to occur, the scan must clearly capture:
The lead’s full name
The lead’s company name
If the badge is missing a company name, a banner will show prompting you to add a company manually. Do that before saving to improve enrichment results.
Re-scan option: Badge images are saved to your phone’s camera roll automatically. If a scan doesn’t return information, you can re-upload that saved image in the app and try again.
Step 3: Review, add qualifiers, notes, and tags
After the scan, the app will prompt you to complete any required lead qualifiers.
Tips:
Use voice-to-text to capture notes quickly.
Pro tip: Scan early in the conversation so you can qualify while chatting.
Step 4: AI data enrichment + saving the lead
You can tap "Save" at any time, even before enrichment completes. Within 5-15 seconds, Popl will enrich the contact + company data. A banner will appear to indicate that enrichment is in progress. Once it disappears, enrichment has completed.
Email enrichment behavior
If AI enrichment finds an email: | If no email is found, but predictions are available: | If no email (and no predictions): |
1. The email will auto-fill. | 1. Popl may show | 1. The email field will be flagged. |
2. Verify details → tap Save at any time
See it in action here. | 2. Tap the correct one only after confirming (ask the lead, check their business card, etc.) → Save
Treat predictions as helpful suggestions, not guaranteed truth.
See it in action here. | 2. Ask the lead directly or let them type it into your phone → Save
|
Offline or spotty service?
Ask for the email and enter it manually while you have them in front of you. You can always validate the rest later.
Test the Badge Scanner (using our test badge)
Before your event, run a quick practice scan to confirm your scanner + enrichment are working.
Use the Popl test badge image
We’ve provided a test badge you can use anytime to practice scanning and train your team.
Quick Recap:
Open the mobile Popl App → tap Scan
Select Event Badge
Scan the test badge image (make sure the full badge is visible in-frame)
AI enrichment should complete in 5-15 seconds after scanning
Review the fields → tap "Save" at any time
Go to Leads to confirm it saved correctly
Admin tip: Have each rep complete 1 successful test scan before the event to ensure consistent technique and clean lead capture.
Offline mode
No service? No problem.
Popl stores badge scans and can enrich them once you’re back online.
Note: You must reopen the app to trigger enrichment/export.
Pro tip: If the event Wi-Fi is slow, switch to cellular for faster enrichment.
See it in action here:
For admins: Enable team success
Do this before the event to ensure clean data and smooth follow-up:
Distribute this guide to reps ahead of time
Run a 10-minute training using a demo badge (or real badge examples)
Shadow new reps for their first few scans to build confidence
Use the Popl Dashboard to monitor adoption, configure custom follow-ups, and set up CRM integrations
Pair with Campaign setup: If you’re launching an Event Campaign, train your team on badge scanning during pre-event prep, so lead data is accurate, enriched, and ready to sync for performance tracking.
FAQs
What if I only scan the QR code? | Popl won’t be able to enrich the lead reliably. Always scan the full badge. |
Can I upload a badge photo from my camera roll? | Yes. Tap the upload option in the badge scanner and select the image. |
What do I do if enrichment fails completely? | Confirm the full name + company, then ask for the email manually before saving. |
What if the scan doesn’t return information? | A badge photo is saved to your camera roll automatically. Re-upload it in the scanner for another attempt. |
Why might enrichment fail? | Common reasons include a missing/incorrect name or company, a limited online presence, or unusual formatting. The clearer the badge’s name + company, the better the results. |
Are encrypted QR codes suitable for public sharing? | Encrypted QR codes are best for internal organizational use, not public sharing. |
How often is company enrichment data updated? | Every 30 days. |
Do I have to wait for enrichment to complete before tapping "Save"? | No! Users can tap "Save" in the top right at any time after the image is captured. The enrichment will automatically run in the background. |
Summary
Our Universal Badge Scanner gives you:
One easy-to-use lead capture app for every event
Faster data enrichment and follow-up
Cleaner, more accurate CRM-ready data
For best results: scan early, scan fully, confirm key details, and save clean.
Watch the tutorial video here.
💡 Tip
Need more help? Get support from our team
Chat with us 
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