Top 5 Reasons Your College Should be Using NFC Mobile Credentials

Thomas Edison once said, “If there’s a better way to do it, find it.”  

For nearly 40 years, the innovators at Transact Campus have made it their mission to find a better way of doing things. Their steadfast goal is to create the most secure, cost-effective Campus ID solutions for our clients to help them do business faster and more efficiently. 

When it comes to campus security credentials, the traditional method, used for many years, has been physical ID cards. These cards typically feature a student or faculty member’s photo, name, and other identification markers embedded via a bar code magnetic stripe or NFC-enabled contactless card. Users swipe or wave these ID cards over a card reader system to gain access to dorms, libraries, study halls, and campus events.

Digital IDs are a high priority for Gen Z’ers. A new Transact research study revealed, “70% of traditional college-aged Gen Z students (18 to 22) think the availability of Digital IDs is an important factor when deciding on which college they want to attend.” To go a step further, this new generation of Gen Z has even higher expectations of their student ID to get them access to everything from their dorms and the library to food delivery and mobile payments. Other notable statistics in the study highlight students’ discontent with plastic ID cards:

• 70% find it “annoying” to take their ID everywhere.
• 61% said the top disadvantage of physical IDs is replacement cost.
  

More and more, though, institutions are listening to students and phasing out physical ID cards in favor of Near Field Communication (NFC) mobile credential technology, but why the switch? Simply put, NFC-enabled mobile credentials provide a safer, more reliable way to do things.

What are NFC credentials?

NFC, invented in 2002 by Sony, is a wireless communication technology that allows two devices to exchange information when they’re in close proximity to each other. The technology is based on RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). Since its invention, NFC technology has been widely adopted for various applications, such as contactless payments, data transfer, and access control. Today, NFC is a popular built-in feature on smartphones and other mobile devices, enabling users to make payments and exchange data with a simple tap.

NFC wallet mobile credentials take this technology a step further by allowing users to store their identification and access credentials on their mobile phones. Instead of carrying around a physical ID card or key fob, students, faculty, and staff members can use their smartphones to access buildings, rooms, and other restricted areas on campus. This has many benefits, including increased security and frictionless convenience for students, staff, and faculty.

A study from IFSEC Global polled physical security managers, IT directors, and decision-makers from a wide range of industries including the education sector. The report found that in 2020, 51% of respondents believed their current system either met or exceeded their requirements. In 2022, this figure dropped to 41%. Why are users less satisfied with their current systems? As expected, the top challenges revolve around security and convenience. 40% of respondents cited protecting against the threat of security vulnerabilities as a top challenge while being able to issue and revoke ID credentials efficiently was selected by 37%. Improving user convenience was the challenge most cited as security professionals’ top day-to-day challenge with systems, and 43% would like to make the administration of physical access control easier.

Transact’s NFC-enabled solutions are more functional and versatile

Transact recognizes these challenges, which is why our award-winning Transact Mobile Credential solution uses NFC to enable its functions. Once these functions are enabled on a student’s mobile device, they stay connected continuously. Users don’t need to open their mobile device or app with NFC—all they need to do is tap on the reader and it will complete their task. Transact Mobile Credential allows students to pay for retail, dining, laundry, vending and ticketing, as well as access residence halls, campus buildings, and special events. Students can also check account balances and manage their meal plans.

Top 5 reasons your university should be using NFC credentials

Not all mobile credentials are created alike. Many colleges still use mobile credential platforms which rely on Bluetooth connectivity to enable their functions, meaning students must be connected to Bluetooth to use their mobile credentials. Still others are using barcode or plastic credentials. So why is NFC a better option? Here are the top 5 reasons your university should be using NFC credentials:

1. NFC connectivity is more consistent and predictable. If a student’s mobile device disconnects from Bluetooth, they must wait to be reconnected before they can complete a payment or access a campus location. NFC credentials, however, remain connected continuously, making them more reliable.

    

2. NFC credentials are harder to steal or use fraudulently. Barcode or plastic credentials can still be used after their intended lifecycle, giving access around campus to anyone who finds or steals a student ID card, causing a potential security threat. With NFC credentials, administrators can quickly and easily suspend and enable functions which help to prevent unintended use.

    

3. Enhanced user experience. Unlike Bluetooth, which requires a manual setup to pair devices, NFC credentials are easy to establish with no authentication needed—all you need to do is turn the devices on and bring them within proximity of each other. The data transfer via NFC technology happens instantaneously, making it hassle-free for students.

    

4. Easier access control and stored value accounts. NFC credentials make it much easier to use access control and stored value accounts functions. To use both functions, it’s as simple as tapping an enabled device near a compatible reader.

    

5. All-in-one platform is centralized and convenient. Colleges using barcode or plastic credentials use multiple platforms to manage access to tools and features. Our all-in-one platform keeps Mobile Credential features in one place, making access and control easier for users and administrators.
   

Mobile Credential gives students and administrators peace of mind

Since Transact launched Mobile Credential in 2018, close to one million have been issued to students and staff, and over 210 million transactions have been completed. Transact launches NFC-enabled Mobile Credential at new colleges every day, as administrators realize the benefits of this state-of-the-art technology.

“A true campus access control deployment is a multi-stage process, not just the physical installation of readers and software deployment. Choosing the most secure credential, either a mobile credential or physical card, is one of the most crucial stages in the process of identifying the most secure access control solution for your campus. NFC is proven to be the more secure option for your campus credential,” said Matthew Butts, Senior Director, Sales and Strategic Alliances at Transact.

Since barcode credentials and plastic student IDs are becoming a thing of the past, your university may be considering a better way of doing things. Our Campus ID solutions can be tailored to meet your university’s unique needs. Together, we can create and implement the features you need most. Contact us today to learn more about how NFC technology and Mobile Credential can enhance students’ experiences on campus.