“NFC business cards use NFC technology and share the data by tapping an NFC compatible smartphone on the card while QR Code cards can be scanned using the smartphone camera or a QR scanner app.”
Would you believe me if I said that it is time to get rid of your traditional business card? The use of a business card has been a long trend in business circles where business owners and employees can just pass on their business cards to people they meet for various reasons including networking, onboarding, recruitment, and customer support among others. These business cards have been particularly useful as people are more likely to keep your business card than to note down your business details, contact details, etc., however, you don’t have to stick to the traditional business cards anymore. Nowadays, there are various kinds of tech-savvy business cards that offer more appeal and allow seamless information sharing and networking. The use of NFC business cards, QR code-based vCards, and QR code-based physical business cards are prime examples of these new modern business cards. These types of business cards also offer great appeal and can be customized as per your needs. You can add a brand logo, engrave your name and designation, or simply opt for a minimalistic design (just a QR Code).
When it comes to choosing between an NFC business card and a QR Code business card, there are certain things to consider. NFC (Near Field Communication) technology is not available with all smartphones while QR Code scanning can be done with any smartphone with a camera. Let’s see the obvious differences between these two types of cards and help you choose one that meets your requirements.
NFC Business Cards
An NFC Business Card, as the name suggests works on NFC technology. NFC is a short-range wireless technology that uses RF signals at 13.56 MHz frequency to share data between two NFC devices (an NFC Transponder and an NFC Reader). NFC business cards can be presented to people at business meets and seminars where they can just tap their smartphone on the card and all the details such as name, business name, contact details, etc. are displayed on the recipient’s smartphone. They can save the data on their smartphone and that’s all.
QR Code Business Cards and vCard
A QR Code Business Card uses the QR Code technology where a QR Code is printed on the card which contains all the information one would like to share with clients, other business owners, friends, and others.
QR Code business cards can be customized with little to no information on the card itself.
The Difference between an NFC Business Card and a QR Code Business Card
In the digital age, business cards have evolved beyond the traditional paper format to incorporate cutting-edge technologies such as NFC (Near Field Communication) and QR (Quick Response) code. Both NFC business cards and QR code business cards serve as innovative tools for networking and information exchange, but they differ significantly in terms of cost, accessibility, and technical functionalities.
While choosing your preferred business card, the NFC business card or the QR Code business card, one must consider the following differences:
1. The Cost of NFC Business Card and QR Code Business Card
Cost is a pivotal factor when considering the implementation of NFC business cards versus QR code business cards. NFC-enabled business cards involve the integration of a small NFC chip, which can increase the production cost compared to traditional paper business cards. The additional cost is attributed to the technology and materials required to embed the NFC chip within the card.
In contrast, QR code business cards are relatively cost-effective as they only necessitate the printing of the QR code on the card surface, which can be achieved using standard printing techniques. Notably, both, the NFC business cards and QR Code business cards come in plastic, paper, and metal and the cost varies accordingly. Thus the cost disparity positions QR code business cards as a more financially accessible option for individuals and organizations seeking to adopt digital networking solutions without incurring substantial expenses.
2. Accessibility of NFC and QR Code Technologies
Accessibility is another pivotal aspect distinguishing NFC business cards from QR code business cards. NFC business cards rely on the physical interaction between the card and an NFC-enabled device, such as a smartphone, to facilitate data transfer.
It means that the recipient's device must possess NFC capabilities and be within proximity to the card. On the contrary, QR code business cards offer a higher level of accessibility as they can be scanned using the camera of any smartphone. Thus, QR code business cards are highly accessible and can reach a broader audience, bypassing the limitations associated with NFC-enabled devices and ensuring seamless data retrieval for the recipient.
3. NFC offers Seamless Data Sharing than QR Code
Technically, NFC business cards and QR code business cards exhibit distinct functionalities. NFC technology enables the transfer of data, such as contact information, websites, or multimedia content, by simply tapping the NFC-enabled card against a compatible device. Such a seamless interaction streamlines the process of exchanging information and fosters a dynamic networking experience. With QR Code business cards, it’s a hassle.
4. Share More Information with QR Codes Business Cards than NFC Business Cards
QR code business cards leverage the scanning of the QR code to redirect users to specific content, such as a website, social media profile, or digital portfolio. This approach provides a versatile platform for sharing information and engaging with the recipient through interactive digital content. Thus, the amount of information one can share with a QR Code business card is far greater than NFC business cards as NFC chips have limited memory, and mostly a single sentence can be stored in an NFC business card. However, it depends upon the available user memory of the NFC chip being used.
For example, NFC chips such as Mifare Ultralight/NTAG210 can store 48 bytes of data, NTAG203/NTAG213 can store 144 bytes, NTAG424 can store 256 bytes, NTAG215 can store 504 bytes, NTAG216 chip can store 888 bytes of information. To put it in context, 888 bytes means approx. 888 characters of text.
So, a better option is to save a web URL in your NFC card and allow the recipient to access all the information you want to share through the web URL.
5. Security Features in NFC Business Cards and QR Code Business Cards
Business cards carry sensitive data like name, phone number, email-ID, address, etc. and that is why protection against scammers is crucial. While NFC business cards can be scanned by a simple tap using an NFC compatible smartphone, encryption can protect sensitive data leak. A QR Code business card can also be secured using a password protection. Upon scan, the recipient needs to key in the right password to access the information encoded with the QR Code on the card. This provides protection against data theft and scams.
6. Tracking the no. of Scans
QR Code business cards can be shared physically and digitally as well. With dynamic QR Codes on business cards, one can easily track and monitor the no. of scans, location and time of scan, etc. which is quite helpful in monitoring the effectiveness of these cards. NFC business card scans, however, cannot be tracked.
Why not combine both NFC and QR Code on a Single Business Card
Now that we understand the differences between the two, the NFC cards and the QR Code cards, why not use a QR Code on an NFC card, combining the two technologies into one? It is absolutely possible to print a QR Code containing all the necessary information and encode the permissible data on the NFC chip with your NFC card.
This way you can reach more people and benefit from the higher data encoding capacity of QR Code technology, which NFC business cards lack.
To summarize, the disparity between NFC business cards and QR code business cards encompasses cost, accessibility, and technical intricacies. While NFC business cards offer a streamlined data transfer process and enhanced interactivity, they entail higher production costs and are limited by the requirement for NFC-enabled devices. Conversely, QR code business cards present a more cost-effective and universally accessible solution, empowering users to effortlessly access digital content through the scanning of QR codes.
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