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; an ELC add-on 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 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
Wait 5-15 seconds for AI enrichment
Save once complete (or manually enter missing info)
Watch a quick demo here:
Offline? Popl can still save leads, just reopen the app when you’re back online to trigger enrichment/export. 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
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 enrichment + saving the lead
Within 5-15 seconds, Popl enriches the contact. A banner will appear to indicate that enrichment is in progress. Once it disappears, you’re ready to save.
Enriched fields we provide include:
Person fields
Email
Job title
Phone number
LinkedIn
Company fields
Website
Company size
Company HQ address
Company LinkedIn
Company description
Company annual revenue
Company industry
Email enrichment behavior (what you’ll see)
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 predicted emails below the email field. | 1. The email field will be flagged. |
2. Verify details → tap Save
See it in action here. | 2. Tap the correct one only after confirming (ask the lead, check their card/LinkedIn, 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.
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. |
Summary
Our Universal Badge Scanner gives you:
One lead capture tool for every event
Faster 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 
or email us at [email protected]