# What is FirstScanIt?

> FirstScanIt puts a maker-signed QR code on every pack. Anyone can scan it with a phone camera, with no app, and see in seconds if the product is genuine.

Source: https://firstscanit.com/docs

FirstScanIt lets anyone check whether a product is genuine by scanning the QR code on its pack. No app, no account, no special scanner. Point a phone camera and the answer appears in seconds.

## FirstScanIt in one minute

Each code is **signed by the company that made the product**, much like a bank signs a cheque. A code the maker did not sign fails the check. A real code photocopied onto fake packs is caught too, because the same pack starts turning up in places a single pack never could.

1. **The maker signs and prints.** A unique, signed QR code for every pack, printed on the label with existing printers.
2. **The pack moves as usual.** Distributors, stockists and shops keep working exactly as they do today.
3. **The buyer scans.** The phone camera opens a page with a clear result: genuine, scanned before, recalled, expired or not signed.
4. **The maker is told.** Every scan reaches the maker’s dashboard, and suspected fakes raise an alert with the town where they appeared.

- **Seconds to check:** Open the camera, point at the code, read the answer.
- **No app to install:** Works in the phone’s own camera and browser.
- **23 languages:** English and 22 Indian languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Gujarati.
- **Free for shoppers:** Checking a product never costs the buyer anything.

## Who is FirstScanIt for?

- **I am buying a product:** Check a pack in three steps.
- **I make products:** Start with a free pilot batch.
- **I lead IT or quality:** Integration, security and standards.
- **I sell or distribute:** What changes at the counter.
- **I am a regulator:** Recalls, hotspots and evidence.

## Why is product authentication needed?

Fakes look more like the real thing every year. Printing, holograms and packaging can all be copied, and a buyer standing in a shop cannot tell the difference by eye.

The harm is greatest in medicines. The World Health Organization estimates that about **1 in 10** medical products in low- and middle-income countries is substandard or falsified (WHO, 2017). A fake painkiller cheats the buyer. A fake antibiotic can cost a life.

| Common method | Where it falls short | With FirstScanIt |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hologram sticker | Can be copied, and buyers do not know what the real one looks like. | The phone checks the code, not the buyer’s eyes. |
| Plain QR or barcode | Anyone can print one that opens any page they like. | A code the maker did not sign fails. |
| SMS a code | Slow, costs the buyer, and a copied code still passes. | Free, instant, and copies are flagged. |
| Brand app | Few people install an app for one purchase. | Nothing to install. |

Makers also lose sight of their goods once they leave the factory. Fakes are usually discovered through complaints, long after the damage is done, and recall notices often never reach the shelf.

## Who benefits from FirstScanIt?

| Who | What they gain | What they do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Buyer or patient | A clear answer before paying. Recall and expiry warnings on their own phone. | Scan with the camera. |
| Manufacturer | Protected brand and revenue. Early warning of fakes, with locations. Recalls that reach buyers. | Print one code per pack. |
| Distributor or stockist | Proof that the stock they passed on was genuine. | Optional: scan on receipt. |
| Pharmacy or shop | A shelf buyers trust. Recalled and expired stock shows up on a scan. | Nothing required. |
| Regulator or government | Evidence of where fakes surface. Recalls that reach people. Less grey-market trade. | Use the reports makers share. |

## Related

- [How does FirstScanIt work?](https://firstscanit.com/docs/md/how-it-works.md)
- [How do I check if a product is genuine?](https://firstscanit.com/docs/md/verify-a-product.md)
- [How do manufacturers get started with FirstScanIt?](https://firstscanit.com/docs/md/manufacturers.md)

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FirstScanIt provides technology-assisted verification based on the maker’s digital signature and scan records.