With
technological advancements, the daily activities carried out by the users are
undoubtedly getting easier. Here we will talk about the modern technology named
Wireless Sensor Network system, which was only possible due to the tremendous
growth of Near Field Communication. This system uses smartphones to carry out
an extensive array of recreation & business activities on all the possible
levels allows users to conduct payments and transactions over mobile phones. With
this, the requirement for smartphones that imbibe NFC is augmenting.
What is NFC?
NFC, i.e. Near Field Communication, is a wireless communication technology that via RFID readers and beacons lets users transmit the data among various devices that are located far away from one another. Since it is low energy and low-cost communication technology, it enables end-users to carry out the transactions without any nuisance. NFC focuses on customized communication by facilitating secured complex data transmission within the users in a less intrusive way. Along with this, NFC empowers retailers to magnify the in-store experience & knowledge too so that they cope with the endless competition.
Ease
of use and time are two aspects that shape up consumers’ tastes &
preferences. Buyers visit retail shops as they don’t prefer waiting for their
orders to arrive at their doorsteps or they favor online purchasing as it is
pretty handy. Furthermore, the chief purpose is to make it amazingly easy for
end-users to complete the buying process of products/merchandise.
NFC
applies electromagnetic radiations to transfer data within the devices, i.e.
beacons or RFID tags that, in turn, assist users in bringing out the
transactions hassle-free. In order to intensify the payment experience, a few
numbers of markets across Asia, Japan, and Europe have started using NFC.
However, there is still a room to embrace this technology and people are
supposed to implement it extensively.
Benefits of integrating NFC in mobile apps
Offers augmented shopping experience to customers:
Zap tap employs NFC technology efficiently by connecting users to WebPages that highlight product/service data.
Enhances customer service
By taking away the hassles of paying at stores and performing productive processes, it enhances customer service. A single NFC tap from smartphones can resolve difficulties within a few seconds.
Added security
In case, your smartphone is robbed and you have added security to your wallet, the two-step authentication method prevents your money from getting fraud.
Improved convenience
For faster payments, NFC expedites up the payment method for the customers.
Cuts down the operational cost
With NFC, the operational cost is mitigated as the alternate payment processing system preserves money on paper and human resource deployment.
Implementing NFC for payment system
It is anticipated that NFC payment systems will be seeing an exponential growth soon. NFC has brought in a significant change in the retail sector since the moment Google launched NFC-oriented wallet payment systems. An NFC-oriented wallet payment system facilitates the users to carry out payment or transactions at retail stores with just a few taps on smartphones. In 2012, the retail sector attached NFC devices within commodity tags and ensemble stores with mirrors that are digitally driven to heighten customers’ experience. The innovation let them observe how each dress is crafted when they try it out facing the mirror. Multiple payment solutions can be generated that will affect the process of paying and make it easier at every NFC point with the assistance of NFC. Nowadays, numerous retail stores, petrol pump stations, and restaurants have adopted contactless payment system via smartphones.
NFC in mobile apps
As already said, the scope of mobile payment app has progressed at an exponential pace due to the massive growth of NFC infrastructure, and it won’t see a downfall shortly. These payments provide end-users with a profoundly gratifying experience as they are based out of extremely intuitive UI. This type of payment system will grow as there is a presence of different innovative components and many business prototypes which ensures the same. To be capable of making contactless payments, the users are must install the concerned applications on their Android phones. Various apps, such as Boon facilitate end-users to make non-contact payments. Once you are done with the download, you have to register yourself, and after that, you can carry out transactions efficiently in a short-term period. It heavily depends upon prepaid MasterCard and also presents users with a transparent vision of all the transactions and payments done. Additionally, the user may also scan the NFC tag to retrieve vital information, and all this is made secure with PIN protection.
Utilizing NFC effectively
Loads
of departmental store in the US practice NFC to facilitate users and being
informed of the latest styles and shades they offer. Besides that, it also
enabled them to examine if the products are in stock on online platforms or
not.
Bon-Ton
implemented NFC in more than 30 stores.
Bon-Ton
got positive feedbacks from customers, with the implementation of NFC in a few
stores and users enjoyed the process of using NFC and discovered it beneficial.
One more feature of NFC grabbed people’s attention to a large extent, and it
was the ease of its usage.
Security concerns
Security
has been the concern for the parties involved in the transaction irrespective
of the mode of the payment. No matter what the mode of payment is, there are
always security concerns, especially with electronic payment methods. So let us
see what the serious concerns associated with NFC are.
Eavesdropping
Eavesdropping
is a phenomenon which happens when someone intercepts and gets the data.
However, this threat is least with NFC as the devices are to be placed closely
to transmit signals, and these signals are hard to catch. The data is encrypted
and decrypted with an approved device, in case of NFC based payments. NFC chips
are not active always; they are only active when you want them to be active. It
means when your phone is locked; the NFC devices don’t transfer data.
Data manipulation
It
arises if someone attempts to corrupt or manipulate the NFC transmission data
communication, yet this risk can be mitigated adequately with the use of secure
channels.
Device theft
Once
your device is stolen, then that person can make payments through NFC, and no
encryption can protect you. Though this can be taken care of by some simple
steps and one of them is to set-up a pass code. Devices having features like
fingerprinting scan or lock help in eliminating the risk of NFC misuse.
Security measures
All
the security mentioned above concerns is strictly observed and are dealt with
appropriate security measures. The security measures stated below are inherent
and made to provide that added layer of security.
Proximity
In NFC Technology, the devices must be connected inside 4 cm to communicate. Because of this proximity, it becomes hardened or impossible for cybercriminals to execute their attacks.
HCE
HCE, also known as host card emulation emulates the physical card. It saves the secure account information on the cloud rather than storing it in the device. Android Pay operates on HCE to perform protected mobile payment transactions.
Secure element
NFC
runs within a safe part which is in the form of a tamper-resistant chip
consisting of sensitive data in it. In NFC payments, the protected components
are saved in the device, and it interacts with NFC-enabled receiver to perform
the transaction.
Final thought
NFC technology is assisting many sectors for secure payment or transactions. Also, it simplifies the process of conducting a contactless payment. With NFC, users can keep their card information secures on their phones and pay in just a few taps on the smart phone’s screen or close to the NFC reader. It has not as yet adopted by many, but undoubtedly, it is going to achieve user acceptance at a more general level. If you are interested in developing an NFC based application, contact a reliable mobile application development company which can help you with the same.
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