A complex idea solved with a simple QR code and smart state logic.

Recollo FOMO Pet Tags needed a web application where a single URL — linked to a physical QR code on a pet tag — had to intelligently serve three completely different experiences depending on the user's state.

An unclaimed tag should prompt a new owner to register. A claimed tag, when scanned by a stranger who finds a lost pet, should display the pet's details and owner contact information immediately — no login, no friction. And the authenticated owner should be able to update their pet's profile and manage their tag.

This isn't a simple static site — it's a mini web application with real state management, authentication, and a database layer, all wrapped in a branded, mobile-optimised interface.

We built the application on WordPress as the CMS and admin layer, with custom PHP handling the state logic and MySQL storing tag registrations and pet profiles.

• State 1 — Unregistered tag: visitor is shown the Recollo branding, an explanation of the product, and options to create an account or log in to claim the tag.
• State 2 — Authenticated owner: a claim form appears where the owner enters their pet's details, photo, and emergency contact. All data is stored against the tag's unique ID in MySQL.
• State 3 — Finder view: when a stranger scans the tag, they see the pet's name, photo, and owner contact details immediately — no account required. The interface is designed for speed and clarity on a phone screen.
• Security safeguards: contact details are displayed only in the finder view, never indexed or publicly accessible outside the QR-code flow.

The platform delivered a genuinely novel user experience: the same URL behaves like three different apps depending entirely on context. The mobile-first interface meant the critical finder flow — someone has found a lost pet and needs to reach the owner fast — worked flawlessly on any device with zero friction.

The architecture also allowed Recollo to scale tag inventory without developer intervention, since each new tag is simply a new record in the database with a generated QR code pointing to its unique URL.