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NFC business card - How it can share contacts automatically
Imagine you are at a trade fair and have just had a fascinating conversation with a potential business partner. You pull out your business card, hold it up to the other person's smartphone and within seconds all your contact details are saved. Thanks to NFC technology, this is now actually possible!
NFC business cards are revolutionising the way we exchange contacts - fast, efficient and environmentally friendly. Whether in the business world, at trade fairs or in the creative sector - the possible applications are almost limitless.
From the uncomplicated sharing of social media links to the management of multiple profiles: NFC business cards are the business cards of the future.
Topics in this article
- What is an NFC business card and how does it work?
- How data is exchanged using the electronic business card
- To save contact information directly on the business card or not?
- Comparison of offline and online versions of business cards
- Who are digital business cards suitable for?
- Advantages of the NFC business card - why it is so practical
- Why a business card with an NFC chip instead of a QR code?
- Create your own NFC business card
1. What is an NFC business card and how does it work?
An NFC business card, also known as a digital or electronic business card, is a business card with an integrated NFC chip. Such an NFC card is usually made of metal, PVC or another stable material, unlike the conventional paper version. Near Field Communication (NFC) technology can be used to exchange contact data between the business card and a smartphone. To do this, the electronic business card must be held very close to the smartphone.
1.1. How data is exchanged using the electronic business card
With a conventional business card, all the information is on the card itself. If you want to save the information on the card, you have to enter it manually in a contact book. However, NFC business cards work differently.
They are simply an NFC card with an attractive design (e.g. the company logo) and an integrated NFC chip. All the necessary information is no longer written on the card, but on the NFC chip. When the card comes into contact with a smartphone, the NFC chip is activated. The smartphone can then read the information from the chip and process it directly.
Below we explain how contact information can be stored on the business card.
1.2. Save contact information directly on the business card or not?
Contact information can be written directly onto the NFC chip inside the business card. This has both advantages and disadvantages. For this reason, there is another variant in which contact information is stored externally. We explain the two versions below: Directly on the NFC business card (offline) vs NFC cloud (online).
Offline version: With this variant, contact information such as name, telephone number and e-mail are saved in a .vcf file. The NFC chip is labelled with the .vcf file and is therefore located directly on the NFC tag. The business card can be read, but iOS devices require an additional app such as NFC21 Reader or NFC21 Tools. The contact data can then be transferred to the local address book.
The .vcf data format enables programme-independent saving and sharing of data. This means that .vcf files can be processed by all contact management programmes (e.g. Outlook, Android contacts, iOS contacts).
Online version: The online business card works with the help of a cloud. The NFC chip is provided with a link that leads to the profile of the card holder. This profile can be managed via a portal. Information and designs can be easily changed at any time, but the link on the NFC chip always remains the same. All contact information from the profile can also be downloaded directly as a .vcf file.
Users of the online version must fill out their profile with their contact information, share the NFC card and can then view statistics on the scans. You can find out more about this in our vCard profile.
1.3. Comparison of offline and online versions of the business cards
| Offline (Directly on the card) | Online (Cloud-based solution) |
|---|---|
| An NFC tag with a high storage capacity is required (e.g. NTAG16). | An NFC tag with a small memory capacity is sufficient (e.g. NTAG13). |
| There is only enough space for the most important information. | An unlimited amount of information can be added to the online profile. |
| Data can no longer be changed once the card has been distributed or write-protected. | Data can be changed at any time in the online profile and is also protected against overwriting. |
| It is not possible to customise the data. | Attractive online profile: contact information can be customised, images and logos can be added. |
| Apple devices require an additional app to read and save the contact information (e.g. NFC21 Reader, NFC21 Tools). | No additional app is required, it works automatically. |
| Statistics cannot be recorded. | Statistics on scan numbers and information about the scans (operating system, device, etc.). |
| No internet connection is required. | An internet connection is required. |
Both types of storage are possible, but the online version is much more suitable due to its many advantages and is therefore recommended.
2. Who are digital business cards suitable for?
Quite simply: For anyone who wants to share their contact details! These are usually companies or self-employed people, but private individuals can also benefit from an NFC business card. We offer two attractive variants of the NFC business card:
vCard
Create a profile with contact details and, if desired, business information, business solutions such as designing your profile with your business logo and viewing statistics are possible.
Social vCard
All your social media links at a glance - with one scan! Perfect for those interested in sharing their social media channels with other people.
The NFC business card is suitable for a wide range of people and areas:
- Business owners and entrepreneurs: NFC business cards help to make a lasting impression and simplify the exchange of contact details at trade fairs and in everyday working life.
- Freelancers and self-employed: Consultants, authors and other freelancers can use NFC business cards to present and update their services and portfolios in a modern way.
- Creative professions: Artists, photographers, musicians and other creative minds can share their work and contact details in an interactive and engaging way.
- HR professionals and recruiters: In recruitment, NFC business cards can speed up the exchange of contact details and provide additional information such as LinkedIn profiles or application instructions.
- Real estate agents: Agents can include links to virtual tours of properties, map locations and contact information on their NFC business cards to better serve potential clients.
- Education and research: Academics, researchers and teachers can share their contact details, publications and projects at a glance.
3. Advantages of the NFC business card - why it is so practical
Compared to conventionally printed business cards, NFC business cards offer a number of practical advantages, which we present below:
Quick exchange and direct memorisation
With business cards with an NFC chip, information can be exchanged directly with a scan. Instead of having to hand out lots of cards and manually enter information in the contact book, with NFC cards a scan is sufficient. The profile information can then be downloaded and, once opened, a new contact can be created directly with all the information from the profile.
Detailed information that can be changed at any time
It's annoying - you discover an error in your contact details when printing the cards or your contact details change. Conventional business cards require reprinting. With an electronic business card, you don't have to. You can easily change and customise information at any time via your online profile. The space problem is also solved. All information online, more space - you can add as much information as you want.
Extensive design options for the card and online profile
By eliminating information on the card, there are better design options. Different materials can also be used. As one card is sufficient for one person, you can dispense with paper cards and choose an attractive material such as metal or bamboo. You can also customise your online profile as you wish, for example with a profile picture.
NFC business cards are environmentally friendly business cards
Anyone using a digital business card needs one card per person, which can be used for a long time. Information can also be changed at any time in the online profile. What's more, a recycled material can be used for the card. This saves material and costs. NFC consumes very little energy and is only activated during the scan. The energy is provided by the smartphone. In contrast to traditional business cards, business cards with an NFC chip are significantly more sustainable.
Set the visibility of the data
Depending on the event, it may be that the desired information should not be visible, but is visible for other trade fairs and seminars. You can adjust the visibility of your information at any time.
3.1. Why business cards with an NFC chip instead of a QR code?
Business cards with an NFC chip have several advantages over business cards with a QR code.
- Longevity: A QR code can be damaged by wear and tear on the card and no longer be readable. As the NFC chip is built into the card, it is better protected than a QR code.
- More attractive design options: With an NFC chip, you are completely free in your design, as the NFC chip is not visible and is located inside the card. QR codes must be placed visibly on the business card and also require a certain size.
- Fast and efficient: The NFC business card simply needs to be held up to a smartphone and is scanned automatically. A QR code must first be captured by a mobile phone camera, then a link can be selected. This usually takes a little longer than a direct scan.
4. Create a NFC business card yourself
You can also create an offline vCard yourself. To do this, you need a NFC card with a NTAG216 chip, a NFC reader and a Windows PC. You will also need our free NFC21-Writer software, which is part of our NFC tools.
You can download it here: https://tools.nfc21.de/toolsWin/
If you are in need of a NFC card with a NATG216 chip or a NFC reader, they are available in our shop:
Must know: If you want to set write protection, tick the checkbox next to ‘Lock tag’. However, once you have set write protection, your NFC card can no longer be overwritten.
There are two ways to create a NFC business card using our NFC-Tools - NFC21 Writer software.
1. Create a vCard using the public version
To create a vCard with our free public version, switch to the ‘vCard’ tab within the programme. There you can create a new vCard under ‘New vCard’ and fill in the contact details in a window. Then save it.
You can then select the ‘Write’ button and write the vCard file to your NFC card. To do this, hold your NFC business card to your NFC reader, which must be connected to your PC.
2. Importing data using the business version
Using our coding templates, you can fill out an Excel spreadsheet with all your desired contact information. Then save your file. You now have a finished .vcf file. Within our paid business version of the NFC tools, you can import the desired data into the software. You can then describe your NFC card using the finished Excel spreadsheet.
We offer a function that allows you to describe several NFC cards in succession. To do this, you can fill in several rows in the Excel spreadsheet (one contact per row). One card is then described per row to make the description process simpler and more efficient.