While it has become the dominant technology used in contactless payments, Near Field Communication technology has taken a backseat to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi in terms of user awareness and general adoption. Most people don’t even know that their smartphones have it built-in. However, this technology seems to be experiencing a resurgence as the
world tries to make a more contactless post-COVID society.
NFC has some unique features that makes it indispensable. One of its most important features is that it’s the only wireless technology that requires the least power to run. Only the reader or scanner needs to be powered up while the NFC tag itself does not require power. It’s also quite easy to use as all it needs is proximity to another other NFC-equipped device to transfer data.
NFC tags are also quite small and flexible so it can be incorporated in a lot of things that Bluetooth and Wi-Fi receivers can’t.
As such, NFC has become one of the most versatile wireless technologies currently in the market. It can be embedded in fabrics, paper, and virtually anything that you can put a sticker on. Because of this versatility, organizations are free to let their creativity reign free on how to use it to their advantage.
Customer Engagement
One of the areas where NFC has overtaken Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, is in its footprint. NFC tags can be installed on virtually anything. It’s such a lightweight and compact tech that it can be embedded in a simple sticker or even embedded on a page in a magazine.
The tags are robust with some manufacturers even making their tags machine washable and heat resistant. This enables manufacturers to integrate their NFC tags in clothes and other wearable devices.
Nike’s connected jerseys, for example, sends users exclusive deals, highlights, and relevant player stats when they tap their smartphones on the NFC tag embedded in the fabric.
Although Nike’s implementation of wearable NFC is already pretty thought-provoking, there are other companies that have a more fashion forward approach. Fashion brand Rochambeau.nyc, for example, has created Bright BMBR, an NFC-equipped jacket that can potentially let wearers gain access to exclusive events from participating establishments through a simple tap on the NFC tag embedded on the jacket’s left sleeve. NFC, in this case, has replaced tickets and passes.
Customer Engagement
Counterfeiting has become a huge problem in some industries. The wine market, for example, has become flooded with re-corked and outright fake bottles of wines worth tens of thousands of dollars. What makes it particularly sinister is that a lot of the time, even buyers don’t even know they bought fake wines even after tasting it.
NFC is one of the primary technologies that wine makers tap into to counterfeit-proof their bottles. From cork stoppers to tamper tags, these seemingly mundane items that usually come with a bottle of wine can be equipped with NFC sensors that can digitally indicate whether a bottle has already been opened even if they manage to physically restore the tags and corks to their original unopened state.
Asset Management
Speaking of access, there are some high-value assets that already use NFC as a key. Tesla, for example, uses NFC instead of the traditional key fob to open and turn on their electric cars.
Realizing the potential of NFC in the scenario, other companies have also begun rolling out NFC keys for some of their luxury and mid-range automotive lines. Some manufacturers even go as far as letting owners pair their NFC-enabled phones with their cars for a truly keyless operation.
Some companies have also incorporated NFC in managing office assets. While NFC enabled printers have been around for almost a decade now, there are other emerging applications for the technology especially during the rise of the work-from-home setup. These days, company secrets can easily fall into the wrong hands if devices like laptops and smartphones aren’t secured by some sort of encryption. Passwords can help but an added layer of NFC security tags can further bring down the chances of data leaks and breaches.
Yubico is one of the companies that has realized the value of NFC as an asset management tool. With their innovative YubiKey, the company uses NFC in their security keys that grant access to laptops with sensitive data. While it’s mainly designed to be plugged into a laptop’s USB-C port, YubiKey, also has a built-in NFC tag in case the user’s device doesn’t have that port.
Supply Chain Visibility
Inventory management can also be enhanced by introducing NFC into the system. Since all it needs is to have someone tap an NFC-equipped item or packaging, it should be easier to scan and update inventory. QR codes can sometimes get erased or obstructed by damage in the shipping process. The added step of looking for the code can also take some precious time.
Because all NFC needs is proximity, warehouse employees don’t need to look for the actual NFC tag. This eliminates the hazards of erased or damaged QR codes.
Automation
Ease of use is one of the things customers like about the products they buy. Sure, Bluetooth is easy enough to use but sometimes, it’s just not as reliable as others want it to be. Pairing your Bluetooth can sometimes be an arduous exercise.
With NFC, pairing Bluetooth devices can be automated. Anker’s Soundcore Flare, for example, uses NFC for pairing to smartphones. This enables users to simply tap their phones on the speaker and they’re automatically paired. This erases the need to go into the smartphone’s Bluetooth settings. This is an excellent feature if there are multiple users who want to use the device.
There are also versatile standalone programmable NFC tags available for purchase that can help with automating other tasks. It comes in the form of stickers that you can apply on specific surfaces. One that’s placed on your desk, for example, can be programmed to put your NFC-equipped smartphone on silent mode. The fun part about this type of NFC application is that the possibilities are practically endless depending on the devices.
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