ARTICLE: How to Use NFC Tags
NFC stickers can be used in Reach to assist with Kiosk sign in and sign out (SISO) transactions. They will reduce physical touch contact with kiosk screens and are an ideal tool in the COVID-19 environment where reducing surface contact is a recommended practice. Scanning NFC stickers when they are being used in Reach is accomplished through using the Reach Student Life Management app.
You MUST program the NFC stickers using the Reach Student Life Management native app downloaded from the Google Play or Apple App Stores
What is NFC?
NFC stands for near-field communication and it allows phones, tablets, laptops, and other devices to easily share data with other NFC-equipped devices. It evolved from radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology. An NFC chip operates as one part of a wireless link. Once it's activated by another chip, small amounts of data between the two devices can be transferred when held a few centimeters from each other.
NFC Tag Specifications
Any NTAG215, 13.56MHz tags will work as long as they support the ISO 14443A protocol. These have been tested and will work on the Reach system.
Enable NFC Scan Option on the Mobile App
To enable the NFC Scan option on the mobile app, open System Configuration > QR and NFC and change setting #3716 Show NFC on Mobile App setting to Yes
Programming NFC Tags
Open the Reach Student Life Management mobile app on an NFC enabled phone. Log in using a staff account and from the home screen navigate to More on the bottom menu bar and then select Program NFC.
Ensure setting 3716 "Show NFC on Mobile App" is turned on in System Configuration > QR and NFC before trying to program NFC tags
- Under the Associated Entity dropdown, select the location where the NFC tag will be located. NOTE: a location need to be set up in your Reach web portal before programming an NFC tag to that location, System Configurations > Locations
- Give the tag a nickname.
- Generate a random security code by clicking the green button on the right.
Tap the write button and touch the NFC tag to the phone.
In the case where you have multiple entrances to a location, you can program multiple NFC tags to correspond to the same Reach location. Simply give them a different nickname to help you differentiate them.
Deactivating NFC Tags
To review or deactivate an NFC tag, navigate to System Configuration > Identities on your web portal. Here you can deactivate (delete) any active NFC Tag from the system or repurpose the Tag to a different location.
- To repurpose the Tag to a different location set a new Association for the Tag and delete the existing Association.
- To remove the Tag open the profile and delete.
Using NFC Tags
Open the Reach Student Life Management mobile app on an NFC enabled phone. Log in using a student or staff account and tap SISO icon in the top right corner or the SISO under Current Location. Then select the NFC SISO button. Touch the phone to the NFC tag to SISO to the new location. The student/staff's location will automatically update throughout the Reach system, displaying their new location.
If there is difficulty with getting a read from the NFC tag, it is typically due to not tapping the NFC tag to the device in the proper spot. The location of the NFC-antenna differs between Apple and Android devices.
On iPhones (iOS/Apple) the NFC-antenna is on the back of iPhones at the top of the phone. To read the NFC tag with an iPhone, place the top edge of the back of the iPhone on the tag.
On Android phones, the position of the NFC-antenna is dependent on the manufacturer of the Android device. Typically, the NFC-antenna can be found near the camera or in the middle at the back of the phone. To read the NFC tag with an Android phone, place your phone over the NFC tag and hold it steadily in place. It is important to position the NFC-antenna in the middle of the tag (i.e. for Samsung devices the NFC-antenna can be found in the middle at the back of the phone).
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