The user who posted this question is doing something smart, and they probably don't realize how smart it is. They are trying to solve a real operational problem, tracking furniture and fixtures across multiple properties, without waiting for IT approval, without buying expensive software, and without learning to code. They want a QR tagging system that updates an existing Excel file when someone scans a label. That instinct to use what you already have and make it work harder is exactly the right starting point. But the honest answer to their question is no, you cannot reliably build that kind of system using only Excel and a few internet tutorials.
Here is why. A QR code is just a container for a link or a text string. Scanning it can open a web page, but Excel is not a web server. It does not have a backend that listens for incoming data, and it does not have a frontend that presents a clean form to someone holding a phone on a loading dock or in a storage room. What you end up with is a fragile patchwork: a shared file on a network drive, macros that might break, and no audit trail for who moved what when. The fear you described, losing track of an asset because it was moved without proper reporting, does not disappear with Excel alone. It actually gets worse, because now you have a false sense of control.
What you need is a system that treats your spreadsheet as a source of truth, not as the application itself. An AI-native spreadsheet can do exactly that. It can host the data in a structured way, generate QR codes that link to a live form, and update the record automatically when someone scans and submits a change. The person on site does not need to open Excel, find the right row, and type a status update. They scan, tap a few options, and the location and condition fields update in real time. You, sitting at your desk, see the change immediately. No macros, no shared file conflicts, no chasing people for reports.
The practical step is this: stop trying to bolt a scanning system onto a desktop file. Instead, explore a spreadsheet that lives in the cloud and exposes its rows through simple forms. If you can open a browser, you can set it up. Your supervisor gave you a daunting task, but the solution does not have to be daunting. You already had the right idea, use QR codes to track movement. Now give that idea a foundation that works without you being on site to troubleshoot it.