Feb 26 2015
Thin Film Electronics ASA, a leader in the development and commercialization of printed electronics and smart systems, today announced the launch of OpenSense™, a new near field communication (NFC) sensor tag technology with the ability to drive enhanced consumer engagement and improved product security. This innovative technology addresses compelling applications in a range of global markets, including wine and spirits, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, health and beauty care, and automotive.
OpenSense NFC tag on a bottle of wine. (Photo: Business Wire)
The key to Thinfilm’s proprietary and patent-pending OpenSense technology is that it enables the dynamic detection of a product’s “sealed” and “open” states, while delivering smartphone-centric, NFC-readability of the tag before and after the factory seal has been broken. Unique identifiers within each OpenSense tag support a broad range of real-time marketing, product authenticity and security applications. With a simple tap of an NFC-enabled smartphone or mobile device, consumers, branded product manufacturers, and trusted partners can instantly receive relevant messaging, while a secure cloud database – like the award-winning IoT Smart Products platform offered by Thinfilm’s UK-based partner, EVRYTHNG – tracks product lineage and provides robust supply-chain analytics to enable smart business decisions.
“We believe Thinfilm’s OpenSense technology is game-changing and will deliver tremendous benefits across a range of markets and industries,” said Davor Sutija, Thinfilm’s chief executive officer. “The interest we’ve received to date has been tremendous, and we are excited to showcase this next-generation NFC solution during the upcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.”
As a direct result of Thinfilm’s innovative printed-electronics technology and high-volume manufacturing processes, OpenSense tags also offer substantial cost and scalability benefits over more traditional radio-frequency identification (RFID) solutions. Ultra-high production levels and relatively lower unit costs can help facilitate wider, item-level deployments of OpenSense, greatly supporting Thinfilm in its mission to make everyday objects smart and extend the boundaries of the Internet of Things (IoT).
On the consumer side, brand marketers can benefit from enhanced consumer engagement capabilities, beginning at the point-of-sale and continuing beyond the point at which a product is initially opened. Dynamic mobile content can be customized and delivered based on “sealed” or “opened” status, as the consumer’s context shifts from “pre-purchase” to “in use.” Sealed products could trigger multimedia content to encourage a consumer purchase, while opened products could deliver messaging with usage tips, recommendations of complementary products, and a frictionless reorder option. The streamlined, yet sophisticated, OpenSense technology enables a personalized approach that fosters brand loyalty and builds lasting consumer-brand relationships.
Sutija will discuss Thinfilm’s OpenSense technology during his keynote address on Thursday, March 5 at 9:30 am CET, at Mobile World Congress 2015 in Barcelona, Spain. Thinfilm will also conduct live demonstrations of the OpenSense technology at its exhibition booth located in the Innovation Norway pavilion located in Hall 6, Stand 6H20.