How Apple’s adoption of Near Field Communication (NFC) creates new marketing opportunities—and signals a new era

• In Near Field Communications (NFC)
• January 24, 2018

It’s an exciting time in the world of Apple products. With decades of innovation and wild success under their belts, this year finds them poised to release iOS 11, the latest incarnation of their powerful but user-friendly software. As an iPhone and Apple Watch fanatic, I can’t help but anticipate the tweaks and improvements of the new operating system. And even though 11 will likely establish yet again the new pinnacle of the Apple experience, one trait in particular gives it a special edge: Near Field Communication.

Near Field Communication, or NFC, is a form of wireless communication between devices that uses proximity to create simple, brief connections. Probably the most common example of this technology in day-to-day life is in “tap and go” payment systems. However, its prevalence is on the rise, and NFC is expected to become a more and more important part of how consumers use their devices to interact with businesses and their money.

As with many other emergent trends in the world of smartphones, NFC offers the marketing world a chance to take advantage of new opportunities. Let’s do a little digging:

Martech stresses the ease of the customer’s experience when it comes to Near Field Communication. They point to the higher level of engagement that comes from getting closer to things like posters or magazine ads. This interaction, and the ease of interactions that follow, are quoted as being the “holy grail” of marketing.

NFC Forum points to several marketing advantages, notably businesses’ ability to learn more about their customer base and to reach customers in the absence of an internet connection.

Firebrand distills another part of the NFC discussion: the technology bridges the gap between physical and digital markets. Also highlighted is the chance for marketers to create deep experiences through NFC tagging, for example tagging a movie poster to allow customer access to trailers and other promotional content.

Business News Daily reports on the rise of NFC, citing the advantage of being able to promote products to consumers who are within a range of that product, creating real-time interaction opportunities. They add that adopters of NFC can expect an advantage over non-adopters in terms of analytics and strategy.

Ironically, Near Field Communication has been around since the 1980s, but as they say, better late than never. Its rise in popularity can be traced to the modern success of smartphones and mobile markets. The technology is fast, seamless, and operates independently of the hurdles of online marketing. Apple’s integration of NFC signals that it’s here to stay.

At TTAG Systems we have implemented number of integrated marketing campaigns using NFC + SMS + Voice. Let our experts bring your business to the next level. Contact your Toronto NFC Marketing experts today for your next project.

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