// called from within main activity's `onCreate()` method

    if(Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
        Intent[] intentArray = new Intent[2];
        intentArray[0] = getIntent(); // application's main activity
        intentArray[1] = new IntentIntegrator(this).createScanIntent(); // zxing library

        ShortcutManager shortcutManager = getSystemService(ShortcutManager.class);
        ShortcutInfo scanShortcut = new ShortcutInfo.Builder(this, "scanQr")
                .setShortLabel("Scan QR Code")
                .setLongLabel("Scan QR Code")
                .setIcon(Icon.createWithResource(this, R.drawable.ic_scan_qr_black_24dp))
                .setIntents(intentArray)
                .build();

        shortcutManager.setDynamicShortcuts(Arrays.asList(scanShortcut));
    }