NFC cards for farm worker tracking

No paper, no smartphone for the worker, no internet. One tap logs each worker's shift and daily production.

The problem with manual tracking in the field

Keeping track of who worked, how many hours, and how much they produced is a critical task for any farm manager. And it almost always ends up in paper sheets, manually filled spreadsheets, or apps that require every worker to have a smartphone.

Paper gets lost. Spreadsheets get filled in wrong. And asking seasonal workers to use an app is not realistic when many do not have mobile data or the right device.

NFC cards solve this in an elegant, low-cost way.

What is an NFC card and how is it used in the field?

NFC (Near Field Communication) is the same technology used by contactless payment cards. An NFC card is a battery-free chip that transmits a unique identifier when held near an Android phone with NFC enabled.

In the farming context, each worker carries an NFC card like a badge. The manager has the phone running Encampo. When the worker arrives, they tap their card to the phone: check-in logged. When they leave, the same gesture: check-out and day's production recorded.

Everything is linked to the worker's profile in the database.

What NFC cards can I use?

Any standard NFC card: NTAG213, NTAG215, or NTAG216. These are the most common on the market, open standard, and require no specific brand or license.

  • Available at electronics stores, Amazon, or AliExpress
  • Typical price: under $1 USD per card for small orders
  • Available as credit-card format, keychain, or sticker
  • No battery, no maintenance, practically indestructible

The farmer buys the cards anywhere and assigns them to workers through the app. No hardware vendor lock-in.

What you can measure per worker

  • Hours worked per shift and per period
  • Daily production: quantity harvested, crop, unit of measure
  • Projects or plots worked on
  • Attendance history: present, absent, late arrivals
  • Performance comparison across workers

All this data is visible on the Encampo Pro web dashboard. The manager can see the team summary in real time from any browser.

No paper, no errors, no excuses

The NFC system eliminates ambiguity in manual records. The check-in time is stamped at the exact moment it happens, tied to the worker's identity, and stored locally without needing internet.

There is no way for someone to clock in for another person. There are no timesheets that can be altered afterward. And at the end of the week, the summary is ready without anyone having to transcribe anything.

Frequently asked questions

What type of NFC cards work with Encampo?

Any standard NFC card: NTAG213, NTAG215, or NTAG216. These are the most common on the market, open standard, and require no specific brand or license.

Does the worker need to have the app installed?

No. The worker only needs their NFC card. The manager or supervisor has the app on their phone and handles the taps. The worker does not need a smartphone.

Does NFC check-in work without internet?

Yes. The NFC tap logs data locally on the manager's device. Sync to the cloud happens later, when a connection is available.

What information is recorded per worker?

Check-in and check-out per shift, daily production (harvests, units), projects or crops worked on, and a full history by week, month, or custom period.

Can I view each worker's performance on the web dashboard?

Yes. The Encampo Pro web dashboard shows production and attendance broken down by worker. You can compare performance, view absences, and export the data.

Start using NFC cards on your farm

Download Encampo, assign cards to your workers, and take control from day one.

Download on Google Play