Although NFC (Near-Field Communication) technology is already known in certain areas, it still has a long way to go in terms of its potential applications, and that's where we need to work to harness the benefits it offers.
Many of us, perhaps without even realizing it, have already used this technology. For example, when we make a payment at any establishment.
How does it work? We simply bring our mobile phone close to a device at the cashier's counter, and that's it! If we have the funds, the purchase is made without any issues, right?
Other times, we use NFC to configure our devices without the need for cables or Bluetooth connections because it's faster and more convenient to bring the two devices close together, isn't it?
NFC technology enables short-range, high-frequency wireless communication (13.56 MHz) that creates a magnetic field through the antennas of both devices. This technology is very useful for identifying and validating certain information.
How do we activate this connection? We typically have two possibilities:
Both devices are active and generate their own fields.
Only one device is active, and the other, through a magnetic tag, receives enough energy to send a minimal package of information to validate and identify the required data.
While it's true that many people and businesses use QR codes, it's worth noting that, although QR code usage has its pros and cons, it's less intuitive and straightforward for users. Among other things, you either need to activate your camera, focus accurately, and hope for no errors, or you need to download an app to read the code, and we know what can happen with these QR code apps at times.
On the other hand, we also encounter durability issues due to label wear and tear. In contrast, with NFC, you only need to bring the devices close together, and this eliminates all these (and other) problems we've mentioned.
But my friend, using NFC is a bit more expensive than using a QR code. The primary device needs to have this technology built-in, and on the other hand, you need another device or tags that receive the signal...
However, be careful; it might be more cost-effective or appealing to have NFC technology for conducting processes within companies or for end users to experience more personal satisfaction. It all depends on what you're looking for or aiming to achieve with the use of NFC technology.
For example, at Bjumper we always strive to incorporate useful technology that frees you, as it consistently adds more efficiency, productivity, and satisfaction to processes.
When it comes to NFC for the end-user environment, it's clear that it's super convenient, as you can appreciate. As we mentioned earlier, making payments through a smartphone or smartwatch is a comfortable and highly valued experience for end users, making it increasingly in demand. But NFC can be found in many more places, such as:
Access and payment bracelets without the need for other accreditations or cards.
Enjoying content during museum visits.
Quickly sharing music, photos, and videos with your friends and family.
Using ATMs without taking your cards out of your pocket.
Simplifying the synchronization of other devices like speakers and headphones.
Or simply sharing the Wi-Fi password at home when family and friends come over and you need to give them all those numbers! Remember, just put an NFC tag, and they can tap their phone to connect quickly and conveniently! Useful, right.
And if we talk about businesses, we can mention that NFC has a significant potential for all of them, regardless of the sector and department in question. Let's discuss two different cases to help us put this technology into context.
For example, for sales and marketing departments:
Facilitating check-in at events, venues, and trade fairs for attendees and collecting user and company data.
Acquiring access information, such as user location, schedules, and the most demanded areas.
Launching offers and promotions in stores, displays, etc
Communicating anything companies want to offer to their customers by simply tapping their smartphone in a specific area (videos, promotions, stories, etc.).
And another example, this time more focused on the IT sector and directly related to the IT assets that we can find in data centers. Locating, identifying, and obtaining all the information about any active IT device is vital for data centers. .
Being able to quickly access important data for the maintenance and daily operation of all IT assets improves the efficiency and productivity of the operations to be performed, as well as the time of the operators.
Having data like the device's ID, model, brand, serial number, knowing the rack location, purchase date, warranty expiration, or simply contacting and knowing the person responsible for the equipment makes it possible for data centers to improve their processes, efficiency, and productivity, all by just bringing a smartphone close to the corresponding identifier.
Let It work for you!
