Evolution of NFC Wallet into key uses
In our previous article, the evolution of NFC Wallet, we outlined 20+ years of NFC history and major developments in mobile wallet technology. In this article, we review where we are now and the growing number of use cases for NFC Wallet:
- EMV contactless payment cards are familiar to most smartphone users and represented the first widespread use of NFC in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. Traditional point-of-sale payment terminals had to evolve to support the necessary updates to EMV and are also subject to Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards. VTAP technology is designed to be more flexible and is aimed at supporting many additional applications for NFC Wallet.
- Apple VAS and Google Smart Tap support the NFC migration of membership cards, tickets, coupons and other passes that currently rely on barcodes or QR codes.
- Apple Access/ECP2 is designed for more secure access control applications that require a higher level of security, typically replacing RFID cards, fobs, PIN pads, and biometrics.
- Mobile driving licenses (mDLs) are now being rolled out by governments and can also support the simple, swift, secure NFC user experience.
Key uses of NFC Wallet with VTAP
After many years working with NFC Wallet customers globally, we broadly categorise applications into 6 uses:
- Check-in
- Ticketing
- Access
- Loyalty
- Payment
- Identity
Many businesses combine applications, transforming customer engagement across all their physical interaction points. The most common four applications are:
1. Check-in
Check-in to identify membership status using member number or service credential in all types of public venue. Check-in is the primary use for many ID cards in use today as most are reliant on low security magstripe cards, barcodes or QR codes swiped or scanned at point-of-use.
If the risk profile is suitable to match the benefit gained from use, then the free Apple VAS and Google Smart Tap technologies are more than good enough for most environments. In many instances this can be done by simply replacing or adding a VTAP reader alongside existing reception barcode scanners. VTAP readers are easily configured with Apple and Google data & keys, making migration simple. This is working well for gyms, membership clubs, healthcare providers and VIP events.
In many instances, check-in with NFC Wallet can replace the need for more secure ID checks. Certain government credentials like National Insurance numbers, Health IDs and local council benefits can also be migrated to NFC passes in wallets for convenient check-in to prove service eligibility.
2. Ticketing
Ticketing for access into and/or ticket validation inside stadiums, theme parks, event venues and conferences. The upgrade path is straightforward with a VTAP NFC reader replacing, or sitting alongside, existing barcode scanners. VTAP reader boards or modules can be embedded into turnstiles, gates and handheld devices, or a boxed VTAP reader can be simply plugged into a PC. Football clubs are leading the way, including FC Porto in Portugal and La Liga in Spain.
Whilst many tickets are used in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet for travel, the industry has broadly adopted barcode and QR codes, due to continued use of legacy paper tickets and significant investment in scanner infrastructure. Over time, we believe travel and transit ticketing is also going to move to NFC Wallet when fraud risk is large enough to offset the deployment cost of new infrastructure.
The latest Apple Wallet updates for multi-day passes and dynamic ‘event app’ passes give much greater power and utility to NFC tickets, helping to eliminate ticket fraud. This new convenience functionality for tickets stored in wallets blurs the line between a traditional event app and a ticket, creating new opportunities for venues to innovate their frictionless visitor experience.
3. Access control
Traditional access control is being reinvented by migrating RFID cards, fobs, biometric and PIN entry codes to passes and credentials in NFC Wallet. VTAP readers support Apple VAS and Google Smart Tap for access into lower risk public venues. Locking access passes to specific users’ devices with Apple iCloud or Google Account binding can enable some medium-security uses like 24/7 access to gyms or other semi-public locations. Apple Access/ECP2 and Google HCE/SE are essential for higher security access control uses.
Many public locations like gyms, events venues and sports arenas are opening member access via free Apple VAS and Google Smart Tap, often in combination with check-in at front desk. When combined with IP-connected readers and VTAP Cloud, gym Member Management Systems (MMS) can flexibly control access rights without the need for local access control infrastructure.
Other locations, such as student campuses, offices, hotels and multi-family homes, can use our Apple Access/ECP2 certified readers, connected to smart credential management systems, for enterprise grade security. Credential management systems combined with NFC Wallet infrastructure support the full lifecycle of access credentials, including simple processes for blocking lost or stolen devices and their replacement.
Depending on the existing access control infrastructure in place, VTAP technology comes with a huge range of integration options, including Wiegand, RS485, OSDP, USB and serial connectivity. Businesses can decide whether to simply replace old readers, modernise infrastructure or maintain a hybrid approach.
4. Loyalty
Loyalty is being upgraded to make the retail and hospitality loyalty check-out experience more closely aligned with ‘just tap’ payments. Apps and QR codes are the current ‘state-of-the-art’ for retail loyalty schemes, taking advantage of existing barcode scanning infrastructure, but are not frictionless.
NFC Wallet loyalty works without Wi-Fi (or mobile signal) alongside existing apps and automatically selects the right card for use. VTAP readers also support iBeacon, allowing useful notifications to customers’ wallet passes when nearby.
VTAP readers directly connect existing point-of-sale infrastructure alongside payment terminals and scanners (using USB, Bluetooth, network or serial connectivity), providing a more cost-effective upgrade path than replacing legacy hardware.
We can also connect directly to loyalty and CRM platforms via our IP-connected readers, to enable new points of interaction anywhere in physical stores, for new data insights to influence customer spend.
The next article in this series will cover the final 2 uses: payment and identity.