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Learn what NFC tags are and how they are used beyond contactless payments.
Read moreNear-field communication technology allows two devices to communicate wirelessly. The technology can be embedded in a small tag to facilitate data transfer between nearby mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and other electronics. NFC tags are often compared to RFID, but the two are different.
The RIFD technology (radio-frequency identification) is the predecessor of NFC. RFID tags are most commonly known from anti-theft systems attached to the more expensive products in stores. RIFD has been successfuly used to track inventory in a variety of sectors and industries, e.g., manufacturing, healthcare, automotive, or apparel — wherever there's a need to track items.
NFC is part RFID (radio-frequency identification) and part Bluetooth. Unlike RFID, NFC tags work in close proximity, giving users more precision. NFC also doesn’t require manual device discovery and synchronization as Bluetooth Low Energy does. The biggest difference between RFID and NFC is the communication method.
RFID tags have only a one-way communication method, meaning an RFID-enabled item sends a signal to an RFID reader.
NFC devices have a one- and two-way communication capability, which gives the NFC technology an upper hand in use cases where transactions are dependent on data from two devices (e.g., card payments). Mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Android Pay, and other contactless payment solutions are all powered by the NFC technology.
So in essence, RFID tags are great for inventory tracking and NFC tags work well for enhanced communication.
NFC has been on the technology scene for years — Nokia launched the first NFC-enabled phone in 2006. But this technology only gained momentum in recent years.
NFC popularity soared when companies recognized NFC as a enabler of a contactless future.
Contactless payments registered a 150% increase between March 2019 and June 2020 in the US alone, partially caused by the pandemic. Contactless tech, originally designed to handle small purchases, is now one of the most popular mobile payment methods.
Today, there are more than 2 billion NFC-enabled devices and 20% of the world’s population has access to NFC.
But what is an NFC tag? How does NFC work? What are the advantages of using NFC? Are NFC payments secure? How are businesses using NFC technology?
Let’s look at all these questions and explore some common applications for NFC tech.
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Explore how NFC is changing industries. See exciting uses for NFC tags.
Read moreNFC technology has been around for more than a decade, steadily growing in adoption.
NFC solved a major pain point — providing secure contactless payment systems for mobile payment processing. As less digitalized businesses saw the contactless potential, they started looking for new ways to use NFC in their everyday affairs.
The retail sector has been using NFC for contactless mobile payments. But NFC in retail has moved beyond just a payment method.
Retailers are using NFC tags for sharing product information, offering discounts, in-store marketing campaigns, etc.
NFC-based SOS features are now standard on many smartphones. One can scan a smartphone to know the medical history, raise an SOS alarm for a person involved in an accident or in case of an emergency.
Also, NFC tags on sealed medical packages help doctors and caregivers check dosage info and prescriptions using their smartphones.
Banks and financial institutions are using NFC beyond payments. Apple Pay, Google Pay, Android Pay, and other NFC-enabled mobile wallets are just the tip of an iceberg in the banking sector.
NFC tags are easily recyclable, reducing the use of non-degradable plastic cards. Many financial institutions are also using NFC tags as keys to lockers and deposit boxes for customers.
NFC tags can be used to check in at specific locations. To support the customer experience various venues, NFCs are used to embed links to menus or other important information, especially in places and contexts where QR won't work. Imagine visiting a restaurant, tapping your phone on an NFC tag at the entrance, and instantly accessing the menu on your phone without having to touch a physical menu. This technology can be particularly useful for travelers.
Because of their utility and NFC tags, work well in sports like orienteering, where athletes can use their smartphones instead of often very expensive equipment and tracking systems to access information about their location, to confirm their presence at control points, or to time their effort. Such use of NFC tags in sport events can be especially useful in places where GPS doesn't work, like in a dense forest.
NFC technology is effective at activating automation in sequences in escape rooms. For example, an NFC tag can be placed in a certain location, and when the player taps their phone on it, it triggers a mechanism that opens a door or reveals a clue.
Instead of relying on manual log entries, NFC tags can be used to track the movements of employees such as cleaners or security personnel. The system records when the employee was present in a specific location at a specific time, making it easier to account for employee performance and movement.
NFC has been integrated in several mobile apps, especially during COVID-19. Here are some of the best uses of NFC tags in mobile apps:
NFC has reinvented the archaic practices that have been in place for the better part of the last century. The travel, tourism, and transportation industries are rapidly rolling out NFC-based apps and contactless ticketing solutions.
Airlines and airport authorities are experimenting with NFC boarding passes, and public transport systems have shifted to NFC-powered ticketing apps.
Commuters are no longer required to buy a paper ticket to access bus, metro, tram, or other public transport systems. They can use NFC tags embedded in smart cards or smartphones for contactless payments across public transport systems.
NFC-powered public transportation systems are operating in several major cities — New Delhi (India), Nice (France), Beijing (China), Seoul (Korea), etc.
Restaurants, bars, and popular tourist spots are also using NFC stickers and tags for information exchange. Hotels are using NFC-based smart locks for keyless entry to rooms. Tourists and customers can use an NFC-powered mobile app to get more info, read reviews, find the best deals, get entry to an area/room, and post reviews.
NFC apps allow venue owners, organizers, and artists to comply with local social distancing mandates, sell tickets, promote contactless payments, and ensure minimal contact.
NFC simplifies ticket delivery and venue access for locations like theaters and concert halls. People use NFC-enabled devices and smartphones to validate their entry — at sporting events, theme parks, concerts, conferences, or a live show.
SafeTix by Ticketmaster uses NFC technology to enable people to use their mobile phones as entry tickets. The company is digitizing tickets for big-league sporting events like NFL, concerts for stars like Ed Sheeran, among other events.
NFC tags can streamline access control and security protocols. Companies are using NFC to upgrade their old access management systems. NFC tags can be embedded into mobile phones, wearables, wrist bands, and key chains to identify team members, visitors, and workers within office campuses.
HR teams can use NFC-enabled apps to track work hours and team attendance without being intrusive.
An NFC-based access control system like AEOS by Nedap brings systems, electronic devices, smartphones, and people on the same network. Modern offices can use this solution to facilitate and track movement, provide access to conference rooms, cubicles, or floors.
NFC tags can automate homes, offices, buildings, and even vehicles with IoT networks. NFC apps can be used to configure device operations, share WiFi passwords securely, and control a computer system remotely.
Businesses can use a blank smart tag and download an NFC app like NFC Tools from Google Play Store or App Store to create gestures. You can easily program NFC tags using the app. Apple AirTags also work like programmable NFC tags. Here’s what all you can automate when you program NFC tags:
NFC tags can also power smart locks and work as a keyless solution to access apartments, cars, and hotel rooms. Many hotels are now using NFC-enabled smart locks as an alternative to plastic keycards. Guests use their own smartphones instead of plastic keycards to unlock hotel rooms. This helps hotels follow safety and hygiene protocols. Plus, hotels ditching plastic keycards for NFC can reduce plastic waste.
Wearable tech is heavily dependent on NFC tags for fitness-related information exchange. Fitness apps collect data from wearables and track sleep patterns, calories burnt, heart rate, and other metrics in real-time.
All major fitness bands use NFC as an underlying tech to improve user experience and become a part of daily life.
MI Band 4 by Xiaomi supports contactless mobile payments and configurable gestures to create a workout schedule, play music, set an alarm, etc.
NFC has other use cases for fitness and healthcare apps, too. Caregivers can monitor patients’ vitals and ensure a safe delivery of genuine drugs. Prescriptions can also be stored in NFC tags.
Many pharmaceutical companies and institutes have started using NFC-powered smart drug labels that store a medicine’s expiry date, dosage information, authenticity information, etc.
Tapp is a smart medicine strip that stores prescription data, medicine information, and dosage schedule. Caregivers and family members can use the Tapp app to set reminders so that no patient misses medication.
Learn how FlutterFlow UI builder can be the future of app development in the context of early product validation and gathering user feedback.
Read moreFlutterFlow uses Dart just like Flutter, but in FlutterFlow the code is organized in such a manner that you don’t need to be a skilled developer to create digital products. Which brings us to the next feature.
One of the most notable features of FlutterFlow is that it’s a drag-and-drop app builder. The platform has a wide range of templates, pre-built widgets, and integrations to choose from, so you can create a functional and polished app or web application without writing any code.
Boilerplate code are pre-written code snippets that perform common tasks and can be reused across different components of an app. They are the parts of app code that have to be included for the product to work but the code itself doesn’t do any complex jobs. In FlutterFlow, boilerplate code saves time and effort by providing the necessary functionality that can be easily integrated into an app. Boilerplate functions can be accessed and added to an app through the FlutterFlow visual editor.
While it is not necessary to have programming knowledge to use FlutterFlow, the platform allows users to access the source code to further customize their apps beyond the visual editor's capabilities. This feature gives more advanced users the flexibility to modify the generated code, add new functionality, and extend their apps' capabilities. There’s API support using the "External API" widget where you can add third-party services like payment gateways or social media platforms.
FlutterFlow also offers pre-built UI templates, such as buttons, forms, and layouts, which further speed up the development process. Push notifications go through Firebase Cloud Messaging. Real-time feedback is where you can see changes made to an application in real-time as they are being made. This means that as a user makes changes to their app, they can see those changes reflected immediately, without having to reload or rebuild the app. By integrating Firebase with your FlutterFlow project, you can use Firebase services to build powerful and scalable mobile and web applications without writing much code.
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Flutter and React Native are two leading tools for cross-platform mobile development. Learn about their differences and the best use cases for each.
Read moreAs of May 2021, Flutter was getting closer to overtaking React Native in terms of popularity and usage. But let’s look at the stats.
Interestingly, in 2019, Flutter was almost at the bottom of the popularity contest. So the technology is catching up quite nimbly.
UPDATE, February 2023:
The results of the annual Stack Overflow Survey 2022 are in, and here's a fresh look at the Flutter vs. React Native debate among developers using these technologies in commercial projects and beyond.
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And a look at Google Trends results reveals a fierce battle between the two is still on.
After gaining on React Native for over two years, in April 2020, Flutter became a more frequently searched query globally and continues to be so in 2023 worldwide.
And yet, in the US, the battle still goes on and is as fierce as ever, with axes and gunpowder spoiling the air galore, especially when you look at the trend curve starting from January 2021. However, Flutter currently has a slight lead over React Native.
Statista seemed to confirm the global trend in the Flutter vs. React Native battle in 2020. In the survey made with almost 20,000 respondents, Flutter was going head to head with React Native.
UPDATE, July 2021:
The latest research from Statista places Flutter as the leading cross-platform mobile development framework in 2021. Flutter surpasses React Native by 4% (42% for Flutter against 38% for React Native). Still, it's fair to say the two technologies are almost equally popular.
However, other sources paint a slightly different picture of the overall popularity of Flutter or React Native. Below is a representation of the percent of free mobile apps and games that use a specific engine. Of course, when we take games into account, it's no wonder Flutter and React Native placed lower as they are not exactly the most optimal engines for building games.
What makes these two technologies so popular? Let's see.
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Discover how a no-code platform can facilitate the development of a marketplace business.
Read moreWhile the biggest benefit of using no-code to build your shopping platform is simply quickly turning your marketplace idea into a workable product, there are several other benefits to building online marketplace apps using no-code tools:
No-code tools can significantly reduce the costs associated with building and launching a marketplace. They decrease the need for custom development, allowing you to build and launch your marketplace at a fraction of the cost.
A marketplace website builder for no-code development allows you to build and launch your marketplace much faster than traditional coding methods. This can be particularly beneficial if you have a short-term focus or need to get your product to market quickly.
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No-code builders have a low learning curve, making them accessible to non-technical founders and individuals. This can be particularly appealing for those who are new to building digital products or have limited technical skills.
No-code development platforms are designed to be user-friendly, with a range of templates, custom elements, and integrations to help you build a functional and professional marketplace.
Read about the different types of marketplaces to find opportunities in the mcommerce industry.
Read moreThere are millions of marketplace apps out there. From the biggest ones like Amazon to small niche apps that sell customized jewelry or courses, mobile marketplace can be divided into the following categories:
A B2B marketplace app targets business buyers who want to buy from other businesses. A B2B marketplace lists mostly wholesale suppliers and vendors who want to sell their services or products to other business owners, entrepreneurs, and resellers.
Alibaba is the most successful B2B platform that allows brands to connect with wholesalers in China. Buyers can quickly find the best manufacturers, discuss their requirements, and enjoy order protection while dealing with overseas suppliers.
A B2C marketplace connects businesses directly to end customers. A business lists a product or service on a marketplace app (that charges a commission on every successful sale) where buyers discover the product/service and buy directly.
B2C marketplace apps offer a huge variety to customers making them wildly popular all over the globe.
Amazon is currently the world’s biggest marketplace with millions of products listed by all kinds of businesses. There are B2C marketplaces other than ecommerce platforms, too.
Teachable is a great example of a B2C marketplace that sells digital products. Teachable allows teachers, coaches, and gurus to create, promote, and sell their information products like eBooks, courses, etc.
A peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplace app connects two individuals who want to enter a contract of exchange. For example, a listing platform that allows one user to upload a listing for his old car and another user to connect with the seller directly to buy the car.
P2P networks and marketplace apps allow a user to become a seller or a buyer at different times according to the need.
Airbnb, Etsy, Uber, Quikr, and OLX are all types of P2P marketplaces where people list their products, services, or properties for others to buy or rent.
Upwork is a great example of a successful P2P platform where buyers (businesses) and sellers (freelancers) find each other, complete projects, and pay securely.
A horizontal marketplace app offers products across multiple product or service categories. Think of it as an online shopping mall where you can buy different products under a single roof. A horizontal marketplace app has the following characteristics:
Amazon, Flipkart, and eBay are examples of a horizontal marketplace. Customers with different needs browse these platforms to find products that meet their needs.
Niche marketplaces are more evolved in terms of users. These marketplaces offer specialized goods or services only in a specific segment or industry.
Vertical marketplaces work really well in the B2B space by simplifying procurement and operations.
Marble is a B2B vertical marketplace in the grocery space that digitizes grocery procurement for retail stores. Chemnet is a vertical marketplace for businesses in the chemical industry.
With evolving needs of modern consumers, vertical marketplaces have also conquered the B2C segment.
Unmanaged marketplaces are mostly P2P marketplaces where buyers and sellers discover each other.
The marketplace owner often doesn’t provide quality assurance or background checks. Buyers are expected to do due diligence on their own.
Reviews and ratings affect purchase decisions on such platforms. These marketplaces usually charge very little commission or work or freemium model.
Classified listing portals like OLX, Quikr, and eBay are the best examples of unmanaged marketplaces. Anyone can upload their listing to get discovered by the buyer and move ahead with a sale.
Service delivery startups or aggregator platforms like Uber, Zomato, GrubHub can be considered as a partially-managed marketplace.
These marketplaces invest time, money, and effort in developing an onboarding process for sellers.
Marketplace-guided onboarding assures buyers that purchases are supervised to some degree. For example, when you book a ride via Uber, you expect the driver to be well-behaved and trained. Or when you book a stay via Booking, you don’t have to worry about the cleanliness of the room.
These marketplaces give buyers the best of both worlds — a large variety of independent choices, plus customer support to address any complaints or suggestions.
A fully managed marketplace assists both buyers and sellers throughout the entire sales process. Such marketplaces operate in specialty industries where quality matters most.
A managed marketplace acts as an intermediary in a transaction, conducts background checks, and ensures minimal chances of fraud.
Notch, previously known as ChefHero, is a fully-managed marketplace for the restaurant industry. Notch acts as an aggregator for restaurant owners that assures them of high-quality restaurant supplies by onboarding select vendors and distributors in Canada and the USA.
