This just in: Trainual Tags — a new small business solution that can boost your team’s productivity by connecting training content to the physical objects they use and the places they go. The technology behind it all is pure magic (with maybe a touch of science) and could even reduce your operating costs by 25% per year.

Chances are good you’re already making steps to ease business processes and help your team be more productive. Maybe you’re implementing tools built for small business project management, financial tracking, customer relationship management (CRM), and human resource management. Or you’re getting your team feedback approach down to a T so collaboration and processes are continually improving. 

And that’s a great start. But to really step up your game (and not let all that work go to waste) you need a system that melds your process efficiency efforts together. A one-stop-shop for your most effective processes and procedures, up-to-date policies, and helpful information — right where your employees, prospects, and customers need it.

The key to making important internal and external need-to-knows instantly accessible is modern near-field communication (NFC) technology. NFC is like magic that pumps your business knowledge straight into the brains of your employees — no matter how far they are from a computer. 

But before you say, “I am not getting sucked into getting another piece of tech for my business,” we promise you: You’re gonna want to look into NFC. 

Why? 

• NFC tech is shockingly affordable. We’re talking Macklemore-approved here.
• NFC is wildly easy to use. You can get it up and running in just a few minutes.
• NFC tech is the new caffeine. When you start using NFC in your business, your team will be able to carry out processes over four times faster.
• NFC is the tech of the future. The global NFC market is continuously growing and expected to reach nearly $50B by 2025. It’s gaining more and more popularity in business, and you don’t want to miss out. 

Here’s everything you need to know about NFC technology and how to leverage it to speed up team operations, strengthen investment pitches and buyer interest, and increase customer satisfaction.

What is NFC technology?

Near-field communication allows two devices to share information in a split second with a quick tap. Two devices equipped with NFC can touch (or almost touch) to wirelessly transfer data in a fraction of a second.

Where you’ve seen NFC IRL

Have you heard of radio-frequency identification (RFID)? If your team uses barcode scanners, key fob entry, or anti-theft alarms, you’re already using RFID for your business. *High-five for staying with the times!* 

But, technology quickly becomes old school. While RFID was busy giving off one-way radio waves to identify objects, NFC came along and one-upped it with fancy two-way information sharing. So, RFID has since been on its way out, and all the cool people are making a beeline towards more advanced NFC tech.

Here’s the good news: Unbeknownst to you, you’ve probably already encountered (or might even regularly use) NFC while out and about. For example, when you used Tap to Pay to get iced coffee in your hands ASAP, you used NFC!

How NFC works (for dummies)

Technology is confusing. So let’s break it down.

When you have two devices equipped with NFC, they each have a magnetic pull that gives them wireless connection with one another when they’re super close together. 

Now, picture a magnetic pull (two magnets stuck together). If you leave them alone, they’ll stay like that forever, right? Since NFC technology uses a magnetic pull to connect, one NFC device can send information to another without any source of power. No plug, no battery, no nothin’. 

There are electronic devices that naturally include NFC tech like smartphones, smartwatches, and tablets. But the hottest emerging device is the NFC tag — an adhesive tag embedded with NFC that can pair with, store, and transmit data to other devices.

🔥 Tip: Trainual Tags are the NFC tech small businesses are using to connect training content with business equipment, vehicles, and more. Get 10 for $25. 

Let’s say you have a smartphone and a tag, both equipped with NFC. You can stick the tag on your way-too-complicated printer. With a quick tap of your smartphone, you can pair digital operation instructions with the tag. Then, your new hire can walk up to the printer and tap the tag with their phone. The exact instructions they need will pull right up on their phone in seconds. And they can keep working without missing a beat.

Simple as that. (We see the wheels turning — and yes, the opportunities are indeed endless.)

NFC isn’t exactly a new idea. In fact, it’s been around since the mid-2000s. Nevertheless, a shockingly low number of businesses are capitalizing on it. But not for long. Now’s the time to hop on the NFC train while it’s hot.

Use NFC as an opportunity to support your employees like you’re right next to them 24/7, show candidates and customers you’re innovative and organized, one-up your competition with seamless process execution, and oh-so-much more.

How to leverage Trainual Tags in your business

There are nearly endless ways to take advantage of NFC tech to scale your business and streamline process implementation. You can pair Trainual Tags with processes and policies and stick them anywhere (in or out of the office) for easy employee access. You can even use tags to share knowledge and company information with customers, prospects, and potential investors. 

Get ready to leave your computer behind. Here are the best ways to start reaping the benefits of NFC tech in no time. 

Around the office

Imagine how smoothly your office operations would run if your team had instant access to helpful hints as they carried out their day? This will quickly become a reality with NFC. 

Help your team carry out processes with confidence

Let’s face it, some of your office equipment is needlessly complicated. Like, why the heck are there thousands of intimidating settings on the office printer? And who decided to get the most elaborate coffee machine that exists? (It’s simultaneously the best and the worst.)

NFC is the cutting-edge tech you need to ease office processes for your whole team and any freelancers or contractors who step into your office. They’ll no longer have to wander around trying to find someone for answers when they can simply tap their phone to a Trainual Tag and have the information pop right up.

When you stick NFC tags on or around office equipment, you can give your team instant access to all the how-tos they need — helping them become over four times faster at carrying out processes. 

Stick one above the alarm system and pair it with arming and disarming instructions that only your team has access to. Put another by your conference room door and link it to your process for reserving it. You get the idea. Think of which office processes your team needs a little extra guidance on — that’s exactly where Trainual Tags should go.

Office processes can be easy to screw up. But the good news is setting up NFC technology to give your team the step-by-step instructions they need is even easier.

Give your team instant access to important policies

Does your team seem to forget important need-to-knows all too often? Like all the safety measures for using hazardous equipment, meal and break policies, or phone and email communication expectations?

NFC tech is your simple solution. Adhere Trainual Tags around your office and link them to important need-to-knows and rules.

Put one next to your office calendar and link it to PTO and scheduling guidelines. Have each member of leadership put one on their door and pair it with their personal open-door, routine, and emergency communication policies. Stick one on your vehicle checkout binder that’s linked to travel and reservation policies. And pretty much wherever else they make sense!

Plus, the best part of using NFC around the office? You’ll get from your desk to the fridge faster when you’re not being stopped in your tracks for answers. (Holla’!)

In the field

Picture this: Your team member gets stuck in the field because they forgot how to do something, so they give you a call. You stop what you’re doing and spend several minutes reminding them what you’ve taught them before, only to realize it would be easier if you just drove over and demonstrated it in person. What a way to spend a big chunk of your day.

When you stick Trainual Tags on field supplies and machinery, your team can immediately surface important equipment how-tos, safety guidelines, and more important information when they’re out and about. It’ll be like you’re in hundreds of places at once.

Put tags on the dashboards of each company car and pair them with instructions for getting gas, vehicle inspection processes, and mileage tracking expectations. Place them near equipment and pair them with step-by-step instructions on how to use and fix them. And be sure to put them on hazardous materials, equipment, and supplies and link them to everything they need to know about staying safe while working.

These little babies can tag along with your team members wherever they go (see what we did there?). Your whole team can pull information from them all day long as long as they have internet access.

At business events

The next time your team goes to a trade show, business fair, or any event, NFC will be your new BFF. Come equipped with Trainual Tags on your table, the back of your phone, brochures — whatever works best for your flow.

Let’s say a prospect or potential investor comes up to your trade show booth with a little interest. Imagine their amazement as you virtually show off your company, product, and services with a quick tap. Your future customers and shareholders will be blown away with your extra touch, people-centric approach, and cutting-edge style.

Whoever you run into, there’s no doubt they’ll leave with your content on the front of their phone and your company on the top of their mind.

For services and products

If you provide recurring services for homes or businesses, you can use Trainual Tags on the products you service. Or, if you sell complex items, you can stick tags on them before you ship them out or put them on the shelf.

Let’s say you run an air conditioning company. You can stick a tag on every air conditioning unit in your customers’ homes and businesses. When they call you out for a repair, the responding team member can tap the tag with their mobile phone to immediately surface troubleshooting processes and tips for fixing product issues.

Or maybe you sell a techy product and your customers need a little help getting started and keeping up with best practices. When you pair tags to information that’s accessible to your customer base, they can swiftly access it as long as you keep the source live and up to date.

You might be wondering, “When should my business start using NFC?” 

Our answer: Yesterday. There’s no better time to seize this opportunity to support your team, stay current, and one-up competition who aren’t using it to their advantage yet.

👉 Looking for an all-in-one tool that stores your business processes, policies, and company information in one place and connects to NFC tags in minutes? Try Trainual for free.