RFID Technology at use in social networking

Social Media in the real world

• LifeSynk is a product that brings social networking to the real world.

• It is simply the bridge between physical locations and our online social life.

About LifeSynk

• The user obtains a branded RFID card (or uses any one they may already have).

• They link the card to their Facebook account in a single step on a brand’s Facebook Page.

• Every time they swipe the card, branded and contextual information is broadcast to their friends via Facebook (and other social channels).

How do consumers use it?

• A dashboard of rich features enables a brand to set up campaigns and actions that occur when cards are swiped.

• They can customise the specific news feeds that appear on their customer’s profile pages.

• They can freely add a number of functions such as loyalty schemes, Twitter, email campaigns.

• They can track their customer’s activities.

How does the brand use it?

• Digital services such as Spotify and Flixter are benefiting the most from integrating with Facebook. The reason is because people are already online while enjoying these services.

• When activity is broadcast, it is immediate and relevant: “Mike is listening to Cold Play on Spotify”.

• Brands who occupy the online world have, until now, enjoyed the advantage with social media.

Who’s dominating social media now?

• Previously, the only way for physical location brands to engage their consumers in social media was by creating Facebook apps or Pages to which money is spent to drive traffic.

• Once users are engaged here, they share information with their friends about the app, not about the specific activities at the venue.

• People should be talking, sharing and communicating about their direct experiences at the locations themselves, not an intangible and contrived Facebook app.

What was it like before LifeSynk?

• Allow users to express themselves while at your physical location easily with one swipe, and link it to the brand’s desired content:– I just enjoyed a complimentary Vodka at Revolution– I’m doing a Cocktail Masterclass at Revolution – I’m partying like a superstar at Revolution London

• Friends see the information and click on the links leading them to the branded content and event pages to get involved.

So what’s the solution?

Watch the video

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSllbmn0fgY

It’s extremely easy to set up and manage

Product walk-through

• The LifeSynk admin console has a Facebook application creator that is as simple as adding a few parameters and uploading some images.

• A link is generated that enables the brand to quickly add it to their Facebook page.

How do users link their cards?

WIDGET ON THE PAGE

WIDGET ON THE PAGE

WIDGET ON THE PAGE

WIDGET ON THE PAGE

• Since the user is now registered, it means that the user can now take advantage of the offers, discounts or promotions as engineered by the brand through the LifeSynk system when they swipe their cards.

• The user takes the card with them, swipes it at the terminal which is placed on location, and activity is shared with their friends.

Then what?

• The LifeSynk Vendor console is a feature-rich environment for setting up and configuring each terminal, at any location.

• A number of functions can be assigned to each terminal allowing the brand to control what occurs when a user swipes.

What control do brands have?

• Brands can set parameters for each function, and here is the example of a Facebook wall post.

• Everything is editable - even the picture and link - and it means brands can get more context and relevancy in what people share.

What control do brands have?

This is a standard Facebook wall post, the parameters of which were set in the admin console.

How does it look on a user’s wall?

• Rich analytics exists showing all of the locations, who swiped what, how many times, demographics and more.

• It even calculates how any people were shared to, and how many of those people also swiped a card.

• From this we can track how many actual customers were drawn to the venue via the sharing and word-of-mouth of their friends.

What info does the brand get?

• Brands can take ownership of a “profile” with each campaign they create.

• Users are able to visit their own admin console to control permissions such as allowing of wall posts etc, but more importantly they can view branded promotions and upcoming events.

• They can see what discounts, special offers or coupons are available when they swipe, and it provides an effective environment for brands to promote their campaigns.

What control does the user get?

A free-standing or wall mountable device

Hardware

• LifeSynk have worked to develop a micro-system combining an RFID reader, small CPU computer, sound board, Wi-Fi connectivity and LED lights.

• Sophisticated on-board software communicates with the LifeSynk admin console and self-updates and configures without any intervention.

• It sends alerts if it loses signal and allows it to be either remotely or physically rebooted.

• It’s only requirements are to be in range of the local Wi-Fi network, and to be near a power point.

What is it exactly?

• Temporary loss of signal has been accounted for. It is possible sometimes for weak Wi-Fi connections to drop in and out of connection.

• To avoid swipes doing nothing in these instances, an onboard caching system has been put in place which stores all swipe activity until such time as the device reconnects.

• All of the stored swipes are then transmitted to LifeSynk and the actions occur.

What happens if it loses signal?

• None. The LifeSynk units are shipped with the Wi-Fi key programmed into the board, and as soon as they are switched on they are automatically synched and start operating.

• Every time they are switched off and on, the system checks the server and is automatically updated if a newer version of the software is found.

• There are no buttons, and no configuration required.

How much training is required?

• LifeSynk cheaply source RFID cards. Prices are currently at £1,200 for 10,000 units, each with double-sided branded printing.

• No information is stored on the cards except for a unique number.

• The user assigns their card to their Facebook account, and so any swipes are theirs, regardless of who swipes it.

• Users can delete cards if they’re lost to prevent unauthorised swipes.

What about the cards?

• LifeSynk is built on the back of Facebook. It stores no user accounts or personal information - all of this is via a Facebook app, so it is optimally secure using Facebook’s own Platform.

• The cards are useless as they have no personal information, just a number. If somebody steals this card, all they can do is swipe on behalf of the user earning that user points.

• There is no way to access a user’s account or data except by hacking Facebook itself.

How secure is it?

Finally, physical brands can take advantage of social media and Facebook

The benefits

• Social media is going on all over the internet. There are so many ways for brands to be seen and heard provided they exist online.

• At present a user can check-in to a venue, or they can simply post a status update or Tweet about it, but the brand venue has to sit powerless without any insight or influence over these conversations.

• A brand can take control of and engineer these conversations, focussing them on driving foot-traffic and word-of-mouth referrals like never before.

Do we really need this?

• The revolution is here. Facebook has changed the world and people rely more and more on their friend’s recommendations and actions to influence personal decisions.

• Brands need to facilitate and harness this power or risk being left on the side-lines.

• So many brands are enjoying success on Facebook in the online world, the possibility now exists to take advantage of this power offline too.

Why social media?

• Talk to us about getting one or a number of terminals at your locations. We will set you up to manage your own campaigns, or we’ll manage them for you. We’ll do as much or as little work to get you up and running as you require.

Get started today

Contact us

Email: talk@lifesynk.comwww.lifesynk.com+44 207 148 7590

172 Arlington Road, London, NW1 7HL