Trends: The end of the printed business card?

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The company “V1CE” promises to make classic business cards obsolete – but without having to forego the haptic experience. This is made possible by the installation of a near-field chip. Is this combination of traditional and modern the future for other products as well?

During the Corona pandemic, contactless payment gained even more popularity: Almost every store now offers the option of holding the EC card in front of the card reader for transactions instead of inserting it as was the case in the past. Technically, this works by means of an RFID chip for so-called “near field communication“(NFC). The chip in the card communicates via radio frequencies with another terminal device at a distance of a few centimeters. Information is transmitted directly and easily. In marketing or in the B2B sector, such as logistics, various tasks are performed in this way: as a digital key, the chip opens virtual or physical doors, confirms checkpoints or tracks flows of goods.

The British company V1CE wants to use NFC technology to do away with the traditional business card. All relevant contact information is stored on a chip card. If the card is brought near a smartphone or other end device with its own RFID chip, the address book opens automatically, and the contact can be added with a tap of the finger. In addition to its metal and cheaper plastic versions, V1CE also offers a bamboo version.

The physical yet digital business card is an example of how closely connected tradition and the future are in the printing industry: In terms of feel and impression, the new card offers a valuable update to a familiar print product. The V1CE business cards are also printed and, like the classic business card, individually designed.

And although the company’s website says, “Paper who?”, even V1CE can’t do without printed paper altogether, as can be seen in one of the company’s Facebook commercials: the focus with printed paper is no longer on the actual product, but on high-quality and appealing packaging. The V1CE card thus combines old values with current trends in the printing industry: quality, individualization, digitization – but without paper. Print as an idea and concept is enhanced by imitation in the digital realm. But: We already presented a similar idea years ago, which did NOT succeed in the market. The NFC business card made of paper was not accepted by the market and had some technical problems. It will be interesting to see how V1CE will fare…

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Trends: The end of the printed business card?
Article Name
Trends: The end of the printed business card?
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The company "V1CE" promises to make classic business cards obsolete - but without having to forego the haptic experience. This is made possible by the installation of a near-field chip. Is this combination of traditional and modern the future for other products as well?
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Beyond-Print.net

Founder and CEO of zipcon consulting GmbH, one of the leading consulting companies for the print and media industry in Central Europe. The technology and strategy consultant and his team actively support practical implementation in a wide variety of customer projects. His work involves developing visions, concepts and strategies for the players active in the print production process across a wide range of industries. His areas of expertise include online print, mass customization, strategy and technological assessment for print, and the development of new strategies in the print and media environment. Bernd Zipper is the creator and chairman of Initiative Online Print e.V. and, in addition to his consulting activities, is an author, lecturer and sought-after speaker, orator and moderator. His visionary lectures are regarded worldwide as trend-setting management recommendations for the print and media industry. (Profiles also in Xing, LinkedIn).

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