NFC business cards and NFC technology : what is it and what is it for ?

Explanation of the Near Field Communication phenomenon.

From your smartphone to your bank card, even your key ring, these devices are almost certainly NFC (Near Field Communication) compatible. Thanks to an NFC chip, this technology enables the transfer of data, but not only !

NFC: how does it work?

NFC, or Near Field Communication, works thanks to a chip that enables the exchange of information between two equipped devices. The definition is as simple as that.

This contactless interaction is all that's needed, and no application is required. Between two smartphones, between a smartphone and a payment terminal, a loudspeaker, or even a watch? Everything is possible, all you need to do is bring two compatible devices together.

This technology can only be used at very short distances, with no more than 20 centimetres between the two chips. But what everyday use is it?

NFC in everyday life

When we mention NFC, we often think of contactless payment. Because for once, it's the banking world that's a technological forerunner.

Bank cards: NFC technology for contactless payment

Contactless payment means faster checkouts at retail outlets, without the need for physical contact. It works thanks to a short-range wireless communication technology - called Near Field Communication (NFC) - which enables two devices to communicate with each other.

To pay for your purchase, there's no need to type in your PIN code - simply hold your bank card up to the merchant's terminal. Today, this technology is totally democratized. So much so, in fact, that we no longer totally need a bank card.

The smartphone: the new NFC device

Today, 98% of smartphones in circulation are equipped with NFC technology. And yes, both Apple and Android phones are equipped with contactless technology.

The list of NFC-compatible smartphones is available.

But why do we use this technology with our smartphones? The answer is more complex than it seems. But we can sum it up in 2 main categories:

• transmitting information
• reading mode

The two modes of NFC on a smartphone

1. Information transmission

This is the most common mode. And above all, it's the one that enables us to pay with our cell phone. We turn our smartphone into an NFC chip and transmit information. The main use case is Apple Pay or Google Pay.

But there are many more use cases:

1. File transfer: NFC lets you share files, photos, videos, contacts, etc., between two NFC-enabled smartphones by bringing them close together. This eases the rapid sharing of content between friends and colleagues.
2. Public transportation and ticketing: In some cities, public transport systems use NFC to enable travelers to validate their tickets using their smartphones.
3. Loyalty cards and coupons: Loyalty card applications can use NFC to scan cards or promotional codes in stores, enabling users to benefit from special offers or discounts.
4. Secure access: NFC can be used for secure access control, such as unlocking doors or accessing restricted facilities, using the smartphone as a badge.
5. Bluetooth pairing: NFC enables fast, automatic pairing of Bluetooth devices by simply bringing them close together.

2. Reading data

Here, we're talking about NFC tags and chips. These little electronic tags that are sometimes present on signs in cities or at bus stops.

By passing your phone in front of these tags, you'll collect practical information that will be automatically displayed on your phone.

This kind of usage is similar to QR codes. But contactless offers even more possibilities. NFC technology can also be used to control and operate connected objects. So you can set up your smartphone to interact with intelligent home appliances.

NFC in figures

In 2019, there were 2 billion NFC-enabled devices in use, and 9 of the world's top 10 best-selling smartphones had native NFC capabilities. These impressive increases are probably due to the fact that NFC is driving mobile payments.

‍

In the first semester of 2021, more than half of all bankcard payments were made using NFC technology.

NFC business cards, data and the professional environment

But how can we put NFC technology to work in our everyday working lives? That's the question we asked ourselves with WEMET in 2020. We've answered it with the WeCard.

A connected business card, with an NFC chip and QR Code technology, for transmitting data with a single gesture to any smartphone.

With our NFC business card, there's no need for a scanner. Your contact's smartphone is the receiver of your information. And best of all, there's no application to download. Moreover, NFC chips are secure, and so are your data. For more information on information security via this technology, click here.

The must-have connected business object: the WeCard

A NFC business card all right, but how does it work?

Using these contactless NFC business cards is simple: you bring the card close to your interlocutor's smartphone, and your contact or business profile appears.

And in this case, a video is worth a thousand words.

The last of your business cards

Thanks to NFC technology, long-lasting chips and embedded data, you now have just one business card that follows you throughout your professional life.

Forget the mathematical calculations to determine how many cards you need to order. Forget the panic you feel when you realize you've forgotten your business cards on your desk, even though your event starts in 7 minutes... Yes, it's happened.

But above all, who hasn't felt sick to their stomach at the thought of throwing thousands of business cards in the garbage can, all because the job listed is no longer the right one, or because you've changed your phone number?

But rest assured, no more! The NFC business card sweeps away all these problems.