ShockWatch Label QR vs ShockWatch 2 QR – Which Carton-Level Impact Indicator Should You Use?
This article is part of our SpotSee® Knowledge Base.
ShockWatch Label QR vs ShockWatch 2 QR – Which Carton-Level Impact Indicator Should You Use?
ShockWatch® carton-level impact indicators help prevent damage by showing when a shipment has been dropped or mishandled. SpotSee make two families for the outside of a carton: ShockWatch Label, a thin adhesive label, and ShockWatch 2, a housed, field-armable device. Both now have a QR version.
This guide explains the differences in plain language so you can choose confidently. As a SpotSee partner, Good Life Innovations helps businesses across the UK select the right impact indicators for their packaging and logistics.
A note on the names
The original indicator was called simply ShockWatch. When the housed, field-armable version arrived it was named ShockWatch 2, and the original adhesive indicator is now usually called ShockWatch Label to keep the two apart. You may still see it listed as plain ShockWatch.
What they have in common
- Detect impact above a chosen G-level
- Clear, irreversible activation — they cannot be reset
- Single-use and tamperproof
- Mount on the outside of the packaging
- Help reduce damage and improve accountability
The differences come down to how they are armed, the thresholds available, and what a QR scan gives you.
ShockWatch Label and ShockWatch Label QR – the always-live indicator
ShockWatch Label is a thin adhesive label rather than a housed device, and it is live from the moment it leaves the factory — there is no arming step. That makes it the simplest option for straightforward shipments at higher thresholds. ShockWatch Label QR adds a QR code so the recipient can scan it on arrival.
- Always live — no arming step, just apply it
- Low cost and easy to apply
- Thresholds of 25G, 37G, 50G, 75G and 100G (SpotSee also list a 10G)
- Best for general shipping, high-volume logistics and robust goods
How we supply it: because ShockWatch Label is permanently active and needs careful protective packaging, we have it shipped direct from SpotSee rather than holding stock. Ask us for thresholds, pack sizes and lead times.
ShockWatch 2 and ShockWatch 2 QR – the field-armable device
ShockWatch 2 detects impact in the same way, but it is field-armable: the indicator stays inactive until you arm it and apply it to the product when you are ready to ship. That prevents false activations during storage, pre-shipment staging, packing and palletisation.
- Armed only when you are ready to ship
- Seven sensitivities from 5G to 75G — finer thresholds than ShockWatch Label
- Supplied with ring labels so handlers can see the shipment is monitored
- Best for fragile goods, long supply chains and shipments that sit in warehouses before dispatch
SpotSee is moving this range to ShockWatch 2 QR. It is identical in sensitivity, size, adhesive and fitting, with a QR code added to every indicator, so as standard stock runs out the QR version becomes the supplied product. Standard ShockWatch 2 remains available from us while supplies last.
What a QR scan gives you
On either family, the recipient scans the indicator with any smartphone camera — no app and no account. The scan shows the indicator's condition on screen, its serial number, and captures an image of the indicator at the moment of receipt. On ShockWatch 2 QR the serial is not printed on the device, so scanning is the only way to read it, which turns a red window into an identified device you can tie to a consignment.
SpotSee Cloud: a dashboard across your registered sensors, showing condition in one place, scan history, and scan time and location, which are visible only inside the Cloud portal. SpotSee issue one registration code per 100-unit box, and that code registers all 100 sensors to a single Cloud account, so Cloud registration comes with the 100 pack. A ShockWatch 2 QR 10 pack does not include it — though its indicators still scan exactly as described above.
Which one should you choose?
| Feature | ShockWatch Label / Label QR | ShockWatch 2 / 2 QR |
|---|---|---|
| Arming method | Always live | Field-armable |
| Protection against false activation | Low | High |
| Thresholds | 25G–100G | 5G–75G |
| QR scan on receipt | Yes, on ShockWatch Label QR | Yes, on ShockWatch 2 QR |
| SpotSee Cloud dashboard | With a registered box | 100 pack only |
| Best for | General shipping, robust goods | Fragile goods, long supply chains |
Simple recommendations
- Choose ShockWatch Label or ShockWatch Label QR for straightforward shipments at higher thresholds, where an always-live indicator is enough. Ask us and we will have it shipped direct from SpotSee.
- Choose ShockWatch 2 QR for fragile goods, finer sensitivities, and the ability to arm indicators only when you ship.
- Choose the ShockWatch 2 QR 100 pack if you also want your own SpotSee Cloud dashboard.
Need help choosing?
Good Life Innovations, as a SpotSee partner, can help you select the right indicator and G-level for your shipment. Browse ShockWatch 2 QR impact indicators, or the standard ShockWatch 2 while stocks last.
Related SpotSee Guides
- ShockWatch 2 – When to Use the Field-Armable Impact Indicator
- ShockWatch 2 QR – When to Use the QR-Enabled Impact Indicator
- Impact Indicator Overview – A Simple Guide to Choosing the Right SpotSee Device
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