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One tap, total trust, with NFC security tags

Kinexio

21 July,2025

1 min read

The global NFC market is anticipated to grow from USD 21.69 billion in 2024 to USD 30.55 billion by 2029, recording a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period.

Meanwhile, workplace expectations are evolving and threats are more dynamic than ever, security in commercial real estate (CRE) is undergoing a quiet revolution. The old model-static CCTV cameras, siloed teams, and a few staff managing access from a reception desk-is no longer enough.

Enter NFC (Near Field Communication): a powerful, touchless technology already embedded in our smartphones, bank cards, and transport passes. What began as a convenience tool is now becoming the gold standard for real-time, intelligent security infrastructure in the built environment.

In this blog, we explore how “one tap” is becoming a symbol of total trust-for landlords, tenants, visitors, and security professionals alike.

Why CRE needs a smarter NFC security

Let’s face it, the traditional approach to building security is outdated. Manual key cards, paper visitor logs, radio comms between siloed teams-these processes are slow, reactive, and vulnerable to human error.

Meanwhile, commercial properties have become more complex:

Mixed-use spaces blend retail, office, leisure, and residential.

High turnover among F&B and retail staff makes access control chaotic.

New legislation like Martyn’s Law demands higher standards of preparedness and coordination.

Security can no longer be an isolated department. It needs to be embedded across property operations, informed by data, and responsive in real time.

This is where NFC security shines.

What is NFC technology and why does it matter?

Near Field Communication (NFC) is a short-range wireless technology that enables secure communication between two devices-typically, a smartphone and a reader when they are within a few centimetres of each other.

Specifically in CRE, that means:

Touchless entry and exit
NFC proof of presence for mobile staff
Instant emergency notifications and alerts

Moreover, unlike legacy access cards, Kinexio’s trusted NFC tags can’t be easily cloned or lost. It’s personal, encrypted, and highly configurable-making it a much smarter tool for modern-day risk management.

One NFC tap, total visibility

One of the biggest advantages of NFC security systems is data. Every tap creates a digital trail: who accessed what, when, and how. Ultimately, this real-time data transforms how building managers understand and respond to activity within their asset.

Here’s how:

Granular Access Control: Limit access based on role, time, or location-for example, ensuring cleaning crews can only enter designated zones after hours.
Real-Time Alerts: Automatically notify managers of unauthorised access attempts or when doors are left open.
Occupancy Insights: Track foot traffic and space utilisation to inform staffing and layout decisions.
Audit Trails: Produce instant reports for compliance, insurance, or incident investigations.

Making property security everyone’s job

Martyn’s Law is set to fundamentally change how public-facing buildings including shopping centres, arenas, and large offices prepare for security risks. But regulation aside, the need for connected response systems has never been more urgent.

For context, in the U.S. alone, According to Reuters, as of March 2025 the FBI was overseeing approximately 2,700 active domestic terrorism investigations, nearly double the number since 2020

The role of NFC technology in modern security

In the past, a small security team was responsible for managing large, complex assets often with limited visibility and support. NFC technology flips that model on its head.

With an NFC-based communications platform, every team member on-site becomes part of the safety network:

Users can log suspicious activity.
Security and cleaning staff can report hazards or access incidents.
Tenants receive instant alerts on their devices during emergencies.

It’s not just about access, it’s about engagement. Everyone becomes “eyes and ears,” enabling faster, more coordinated responses to threats.

Kinexio NFC tags are just a step away

NFC tags are quick, easy and cost effective solution for proof of presence, asset tracking, and compliance.

View the Kinexio NFC tags page for more information.

Kinexio NFC Tags

Speed meets simplicity

One of the key reasons why NFC is gaining traction is that it’s intuitive. We already use it to pay for coffee or tap into the subway. Consequently, extending that behaviour to physical access feels natural, and that matters in an industry with high staff turnover and a broad user base.

There’s no need for PINs, key fobs, or printed passes. Just a smartphone and a tap.

Moreover, for visitors temporary access credentials can be issued remotely and securely, reducing queues, removing the need for paper logbooks, and improving the visitor experience from the moment they arrive.

Smarter staffing = safer buildings

NFC technology doesn’t just enhance security, it optimises operational efficiency across your building.

Check-in data with NFC proof of presence helps fine-tune lone worker safety
Geo-tagged incident reports highlight repeat issues or locations that need design or policy changes.
Touchless checkpoints verify that patrols are completed and cleaners have visited the right areas.

Ultimately, this kind of visibility helps property managers run leaner, safer operations, with better oversight and fewer blind spots.

NFC data led decisions drive value

Security has long been seen as a cost centre-but in a data-driven world, that’s changing. Specifically, the information gathered from NFC systems supports wider strategic goals:

Justify ESG investments by tracking energy efficiency through staff behaviour patterns.
Reduce liability and insurance costs with better compliance documentation.
Support leasing conversations with data on tenant engagement, safety, and footfall.

Ultimately, when security becomes connected and measurable, it becomes valuable-to tenants, investors, and the bottom line.

NFC tech is here, today

As AI, IoT, and automation reshape the built environment, smart access control is no longer a “nice to have.” It’s a foundation. NFC provides a plug-and-play platform for future integrations whether it’s facial recognition, energy-saving automation, NFC asset tracking or predictive analytics.

Moreover, as tenant expectations shift toward frictionless, tech-enabled environments, landlords who adopt NFC-based systems today are positioning themselves as leaders in innovation, safety, and experience.

A single tap NFC tracking system

The commercial real estate industry is entering a new era-one where every interaction matters, and security is woven into the fabric of the place. An NFC tracking system make it possible to deliver this reality with speed, simplicity, and trust.

With just one tap, you unlock a building.

Not only that, you also unlock trust.

Trust that the space is secure. Trust that the systems are smart. And trust that everyone inside tenants, staff, and visitors-is connected and protected.

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