The role of NFC asset tracking in smart property management

As commercial real estate (CRE) becomes more complex and digitised, asset tracking is emerging as a foundational element of smart property management. No longer just about keeping tabs on laptops and maintenance tools, asset tracking is now intertwined with operational efficiency, tenant safety, and regulatory compliance. 

Enter NFC asset tracking, a tap-to-track system built for the modern built environment. Leveraging Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, property teams can ditch spreadsheets for real-time visibility over physical assets-reducing loss, improving accountability, and future-proofing operations. 

In fact, the global asset-tracking market is projected to reach USD 36 billion by 2025, with 65% of companies requiring indoor tracking to boost operational efficiency and mitigate loss.
–Avnet Silica, 2024 

In this article, we break down how NFC-enabled asset tracking is reshaping property tech solutions, and why it’s more urgent than ever. 

Without clear visibility, assets go missing, fall into disrepair, or get underutilised. That’s a serious problem in multi-use buildings, where equipment often moves across zones or departments. 

Moreover, as buildings grow smarter and more connected, tracking assets is no longer just about inventory–it’s about building a real-time map of operations and risk. 

Common pain points include:

• Lost or misplaced equipment 
• Manual, error-prone check-in/check-out 
• Lack of accountability for damage 
• Delays in servicing or replacement 
• Complicated audit processes 

Shared assets also tend to fall between departments, raising questions like: Who is responsible for a power washer used by both maintenance and landscaping teams? 

In the context of property management, this means:

• Tap-to-check-in/check-out of assets 

• Instant asset location verification 

• Timestamped audit trails 

• Automated alerts for overdue or missing items 

• Seamless cloud syncing 

Research shows that businesses using NFC-based tracking can reduce asset losses by up to 25%, delivering real cost savings and operational peace of mind.
–Leadercolor, 2024 

How tap-to-track NFC systems increase accountability

One of the biggest wins of NFC asset tracking is increased accountability. Every tap creates a digital footprint-who used it, when, where, and for how long. In fact, in CRE environments with rotating teams, that’s gold. 

For example: if a security drone is damaged, managers can instantly see its usage history. There’s no guesswork, only data. 

This builds trust across teams, reducing finger-pointing and blame culture. For mobile teams like maintenance or security, it also validates patrols or job completion-replacing paper logs with irrefutable proof. 

In a world preparing for stricter laws like Martyn’s Law, the ability to show preparedness and due diligence is no longer optional. As a result, NFC tracking helps make that visible and verifiable. 

By 2023, 85% of all NFC payments were processed via smartphones, averaging just 0.7 seconds per transaction. This same speed and simplicity is now being brought into CRE workflows.
–CoinLaw, 2025 

Furthermore, the momentum is only growing: 

The global NFC market is forecast to hit USD 30.55 billion by 2029, driven by growth in logistics, real estate, and asset tracking solutions.
–Statista, 2024 

The result? Smarter workflows, fewer losses, better compliance–and faster response times. 

One NFC tap, total control

As commercial property becomes more digitised and data-driven, visibility is everything. The buildings that thrive will be those that can see, understand, and optimise their asset flows in real time. 

In turn, NFC asset tracking empowers property managers with that level of control, with just one tap. 

A single tap can now do more than unlock a door-it can unlock a smarter, safer, and more accountable building.