Looking after NFC cards, stands and tiles

NFC tags are simple and hardy. There is no battery, nothing to charge and no moving parts. Most problems people run into are not wear and tear, but placement, and one surface in particular.

Metal is the main problem

A standard NFC tag placed directly on metal often stops reading, because the metal interferes with the signal between the phone and the tag. Stick a normal tile to a stainless steel bench, a metal fridge or a steel door, and it may go dead even though it works perfectly on the table next to it.

Special tags designed for metal surfaces exist, but a normal tag needs some space between it and the metal. If you are planning to mount anything on metal, tell us before you order.

Other things that can stop a tap

• Thick or metal phone cases. This is on the phone side, not the card, but it gets blamed on the card. The printed QR is the fallback.
• Stacking. Two tags right on top of each other, such as cards in a pile, can confuse a phone.
• Tapping with the wrong part of the phone. The reader is near the top of an iPhone and usually the middle of an Android. See will an NFC review card work on your customers’ phones.

Cleaning

Wipe stands and tiles with a damp cloth and a mild cleaner, the same way you would a menu. Avoid soaking them, harsh solvents that could lift the print, or abrasive scourers that would scratch the QR code. A scratched QR is the one thing that stops working through wear.

Sun and heat

Printed surfaces fade over time in direct sun, which matters for window displays and outdoor stalls. The tag inside is not affected by sunlight, but the QR code and the design are. Keep stands out of direct midday sun where you can.

Test it now and then

Once a month, tap the stand with your own phone and scan the QR with a second phone. It takes ten seconds and catches problems like a moved stand, a changed link or a scratched code before customers do.

When to replace

If the QR is damaged or the design has faded, replace it. If the tap stops working but the QR still scans, check for metal nearby and test with another phone before assuming the tag has failed.