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Near Field Communication (NFC) is a wireless technology that enables communication between two compatible devices when they're close together. Supported devices, such as smartphones, can read data from small chips called NFC tags. These tags can be stickers, magnets, badges, and more.
What can you do with NFC tags and Fleetio?
Fleetio Go supports NFC to access assets with your phone. It's similar to Scanning Barcodes or QR Codes in Fleetio Go, but instead of having to access your phone's camera, you can hold a supported device very close to an NFC tag to read it. For example, you could put an NFC tag by the vehicle's fuel tank. Scanning the fuel tank using Fleetio Go will bring up the corresponding vehicle menu so you can log fuel for the right vehicle.
Where can you get NFC tags?
Fleetio Go works with the basic NTAG213 chips and you can purchase NFC tags from any retailer. They are fairly inexpensive and prices range based on tag durability features, like on-metal and heavy-duty. Fleetio has used this website to purchase compatible NFC stickers.
NOTE: There are specific "on-metal" tags that work when placed on a metal surface, like the body of a vehicle. If the tag is not noted as "on-metal", then it will not work if placed on a metal surface.
Device Requirements
iOS
- Must have an iPhone 6 or newer. iPads do not have an NFC chip.
- NFC scanning is supported automatically on iPhone XS and newer.
- iOS 11+
- iOS 14 and up scans NFC chips automatically on iPhone XS and newer. On iPhone X and older devices it can be accessed from the Control Center. Go to your device Settings > Control Center > NFC Tag Reader to enable it.
- iOS 13 and below require an additional app to read the NFC tag.
Android
- NFC capability varies by device model and manufacturer, but is available on most smartphones released in the past few years. To check if your device has NFC and is enabled, go to your device Settings > Connections ( or Connected Devices) > NFC.
PERMISSIONS: There are no User permission restrictions for NFC tags. Any User can scan and encode an NFC tag.
Scan NFC tags to access Vehicles and Tools in Fleetio Go
- Find the NFC tag on your vehicle. For example, here's one by the fuel cap.
- Open the NFC reader (a) on your device. This varies by device and OS. Check the Device Requirements above for more information. The images below are using an iPhone running iOS 14.
- Follow the prompts and hold your device near the tag. The maximum range for NFC is about 10 cm, so your device needs to be close to the object.
Once it reads the tag, a banner for Fleetio Go will appear on the screen. Tap this and it will take you to the asset's quick actions menu in Fleetio Go.
Set up NFC Tags
Once you have the NFC tags, you'll need to encode each one. This step links the tag to the Vehicle or Tool in Fleetio.
- Find the asset in Fleetio Go.
- Tap the More Actions Button on the top right then tap Encode NFC Tag. This opens the NFC reader on your device.
- Follow the prompts and hold your device near the tag. The maximum range for NFC is about 10 cm, so your device needs to be close to the object.
- Wait for a success message.
The NFC tag is now linked to that Vehicle record in Fleetio.
TIP: You can overwrite the data in an NFC tag as many times as you need. Simply follow these steps again if you need to change the Vehicle that is encoded in the tag.
