The Future Direction for Business Cards

Over the years, our knowledge of technology and its development has grown, and we as a nation have adapted alongside this growth. Nowadays, everywhere you look, there are people furiously tapping on their smartphones, watching films on their iPads, and reading books on their Kindles. Gone are the days when it was purely businessmen who were seen with a laptop on a train for example. But despite this change, business cards have remained a constant.

Regardless of the industry you work in, business cards are a useful way to network. Imagine you’re at an industry function – the best way to leave your impression and ensure that a new contact has your details is by handing over a small piece of card detailing your credentials. The question however, is whether or not the traditional form of business card can withstand the test of time. With the increase in digital offerings, will we see a need to adapt the paper business card?

Let’s take a look at some of the changes to the business card and examine what the future holds for this small networking tool…

Business cards currently

Keeping with the times

Although the traditional business card is still widely used, it is important to make sure that what you are offering is in keeping with the latest trends. A business card does not have to be plain and simple!

Here are five tips to help you bring your business card up to date:

  1. Update your details
    It is vital that your business card displays relevant and current details about yourself and the company. You can show that you are future-looking by including your Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter contact details.
  2. Consider shape and size
    Make your card stand out from the pack by using a new shape. Why not try creating business cards half the size of the traditional card. Your company is more likely to be remembered if your business card is different from the rest.
  3. Seeing double
    By using both sides of the card, you can use it to your full advantage. The extra space can be used for company images or pictures of products that you offer – the combination of image and text will make your card stand out.
  4. It’s all about detail
    Show how much you care about your company offering by really investing in your business cards. Whether your logo is embossed, you decide to use a better quality card, or you use multiple colours, your commitment will show.
  5. Don’t be a traditionalist
    Make sure your card is used, and more importantly, seen, by crafting it into something practical such as a dental floss holder, a key ring or even a map.

Memorable business card designs

While we are on the subject of making your business card memorable, here are some business cards that you will not forget in a hurry.

REACTOR pop up business cards

• Design studio REACTOR has come up with a business card design that will ensure that you never forget a name again thanks to the pop up black and white images of the contact person.

 

 

DIESEL design business cards

 

• Diesel Design was the company behind a clever business card design. Useful if you’re collecting business cards from multiple persons in one company, the tab system allows for easy storage, effective organisation and instant location of the business contact.

 

Google Business Card Idea

 

• If you want an easy way to ensure that your company gets noticed, emphasise your offering with this Google search design.

 

 

LEGO People Business Card

 

 

• Working for LEGO gets you your very own personal figure, specially designed to look like you. The front of the t-shirt displays your name and your contact details are on the back.

Biscuit Business Cards

 

 

 

• Your contacts will not have to go hungry again with delicious edible business cards – you’ll just have to hope that they make a note of your details before they take a bite.

 

 

 

Bike Tool Business Card

 

 

• Or how about a business card that doubles up as a handy tool, like the one designed by Rethink, Canada. It contains several useful bike maintenance tools and there’s even a little ruler down the side.

 

 

Two styles of business card
Of course, there are no fixed rules to say that the paper business card must be replaced; rather, it can be complemented with the use of digital technology. After all, the purpose of a business card is to network and to reach your customer base. Widen your outreach by offering two ways in which contacts can keep in touch.

ScanBizCards
This handy app allows you to snap a picture of the business card and the text (contact’s name, telephone number and email address) will be imported straight into your mobile’s contact list. At the moment it is only available for the iPhone so if it was to become more widely used, the developers would have to make it compatible for Android and Blackberry too.

Making the switch from paper to digital
Of course, you may decide to completely switch to a digital offering when it comes to business cards. After all, the number of smartphone users is growing steadily per annum, with statistics showing that 48.4% of UK consumers will be using a smartphone by the end of 2013. As may be expected, this figure is set to rise most dramatically among younger adults. The future generation of businesspeople and entrepreneurs are the ones more in touch with the latest forms of technology, so it may make more business sense in the near future to switch to digital business cards.

Here are five apps that will help you manage your business cards digitally:

  • CardMunch
    Brought to you by LinkedIn, this app works in a similar way to ScanBizCards mentioned above. Use your smartphone to take a photo of your business card and the app will convert the information to your smartphone’s address book. It is up to you whether you let the app automatically convert the information to a contact or whether you wish to edit the information first. It is also possible to view the contact’s LinkedIn page and see which connections you have in common.
  • Cardcloud
    With Cardcloud, you can distribute your digital business cards via mobile or email; there’s no need for the recipient to have the app to receive it either. Upon receipt of a card, the app stores your location, serving as a permanent reminder of where you met someone. Cardcloud also lets you add notes to the card and access the contact’s social information. It is currently available for Android and iOS.
  • Evernote Hello
    This mobile app works in conjunction with LinkedIn and Facebook to allow you to create and store contacts. You can scan physical business cards, create a personal profile and connect directly with other Evernote Hello users.
  • Bump
    The great thing about Bump stems from its simplicity – you literally bump your phone against your contact’s in order to exchange contact information wirelessly. At the moment however, it is only available for iPhone and Android, leaving Blackberry users behind. What’s more, it may take some time to fully replace traditional business cards with this app as not every business person owns a smartphone.
  • Google Goggles
    The Google Goggles app can also be used to read a business card. It works by scanning the text on the card and performing a Google search on the terms. It can also recognise QR codes, which is useful for business owners wanting to link to further company information that would be too much to include on a business card. There are however a few drawbacks with the app. Depending on the layout of the business card, the app sometimes performs a search on the block of text as a whole (contact name, job role, email and website) which can result in a less effective query.

Looking into the future

Is the QR code a dying breed of business card?

First introduced in Japan back in 1994, the QR (quick response) code did not become popularised in the UK and the US until 2010, when it was sought after as a simple means of connecting both the offline and online worlds. The idea became useful for a whole host of purposes, one of which was the business card. By including a QR code on the front or back of a business card, your contact would only have to scan the code with their smartphone to have instant access to your company website or social media pages.

qr-code-smartphone-reader

Now, while there is research to show that more and more people are scanning QR codes, there are none that show repeat usage. Does this signify the near end of the QR code as far as business cards are concerned?

Here’s four reasons to suggest that the QR code is a dying breed of business card:

  1. Doubted by Apple and Android
    Maybe the fact that Apple and Android have yet to manufacture a mobile with a pre-loaded QR reader suggests that the companies have no faith in QR longevity.
  2. Lack of mobile optimised sites
    It can be frustrating for users to scan a code, only to be directed to a site that has not been properly optimised for mobile, and thus does not function properly.
  3. Lack of understanding
    Unfortunately for users who try to scan a QR code at a train station or in an aeroplane, the lack of Wi-Fi and connectivity will result in a failed connection.
  4. Over the top
    As it is already possible to scan a standard UPC barcode (found on most products and packaging) to access online content, it seems rather over the top to also include a QR code. For example, the Weight Watchers’ mobile app allows the user to scan a barcode and connect to a site that details nutritional information as well as the number of ‘points’ in the given product.

What can be used instead of QR codes?

So if we are to stop using QR codes on business cards, and products in general, there needs to be something to replace them. Some other technologies exist that do a similar job of connecting both the online and offline worlds – perhaps these could be used as an alternative to QR codes.

• SMS short codes
It may be simple but it is often the simpler ideas that work the best when it comes to technology. Every mobile phone provides the user with an SMS function. This makes it easy for any user to send a text message consisting of a short code and to receive a link in reply that will connect them to online content. In terms of business cards, this code could be used to save valuable space and allow people to access further company information.

• Augmented reality applications
This new technology brings digital objects to life for the user. There are two types of augmented reality available. The first is known as geo-location and uses in-built technology to give you further information about a particular location. The second uses the same tools to bring digital into context with reality. For example, you are able to see how you’d look in that pretty dress you’ve been admiring. Businesses could use this technology to aid customers with finding their store or learning more about the service they provide.

• Applications
Providing the user with instant online interaction is set to be huge for the future. Already we have seen that large numbers of consumers turn straight to their smartphone when needing to find out information. Using UPC barcodes, companies can create a link straight to their website or social media pages, acting as a digital business card within a standard barcode.

New technology – NFC business cards

Following successful implementation of Near Field Communication (NFC) tags, the company behind the creation, Rapid NFC, has recently added NFC business cards to its product collection.

NFC-near-field-communication-example

For those unaware of what Near Field Communication is, it is a form of wireless technology that makes it possible for communication between electronic devices in short range with a mere swipe or tap. Working predominantly with mobile phones, an NFC enabled phone can use this technology to send information to another electronic device, such as an NFC tag or a payment terminal for example. It is this technology that can be used to enable customers to pay for products by swiping their smartphone against the card terminal.

As for the NFC business card, a user need only tap the card with their mobile and they will be directed to online content for that company, whether video or web-based. It works by installing an NFC tag inside the card that is able to then interact with the phone. It is certainly a useful tool for businesspeople and allows them to offer the customer something unique and innovative.

Further NFC advancements

For those wishing to take this concept one step further, it is possible to link an NFC business card to a vCard. This would mean that once the user has tapped their smartphone against the NFC business card, the information detailed on the card would then download into a contact profile on the mobile. Once this information download has taken place, the user would then have instant access to the business card content stored on their phone, so it wouldn’t matter if they lost the physical card at a later date.

The future of business card design

Although there have been many advancements in technology where business cards are concerned, it is still worthwhile considering what the future could have in store for the humble paper business card. While it remains a trend to hand over something physically at a networking event, there is no reason why business cards will not merge further with technology in the years to come.

That said, here are some exciting possibilities for future business card design

• Voice activated business cards
Imagine a business card that was sound enabled. With a simple push of the button on the card, the user would hear you introducing yourself and giving details of your contact information.

• Smart business cards
It can be a hassle to constantly have to update your stock of business cards each time new information is required. But what if someone were to create a business card that would update itself when necessary? The current availability of smartphones, smart televisions and even smart watches suggests that it is not outside of human capability to use technology to create a smart business card.

• Holographic business card
How is this for an exciting business card idea? – The user activates the card and a mini holographic version of the business contact will pop up to announce the recorded company details and contact information.

• Is there a replacement for business cards?
With the rise in social media and sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn being so popular among the masses, could there be an argument to suggest that we do not need business cards any longer?

Consider our ability to update Twitter and Facebook instantaneously as often as we like. Now consider that on sites such as LinkedIn, it is possible to exchange business contacts and for those in search of your talents and services to personally seek you out. This leaves business cards as the sort of middle man that can quite easily in this technological age, be done without.

Summary

Despite the above however, there still seems to be a preference among businesspeople to hand over something tangible and traditional business cards are still widely in use. While digital versions of business cards are currently being worked on, there remain some people who prefer to do business the traditional way, the way it has worked successfully for many years. With that in mind, it seems as though business cards, in some form or another, are most definitely here to stay.

Comments

About Scott Taylor

Scott is Chief Storyteller for 123Print UK, an online print company who are determined to help British Businesses grow. He regularly writes content on social media, branding and public relations and has achieved coverage in many publications.

9 thoughts on “The Future Direction for Business Cards

  1. I appreciate it for writing “The Future Direction

    for Business Cards – 123Print UK Blog”. I actuallywill surely be returning for more reading through and commenting shortly.

    Thank you, Dorothea

  2. We stumbled over here coming from a different web page and thought I should

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  3. always i used to read smaller articles or reviews that as well clear their motive, and that is also happening with this piece of writing which I am reading here.

  4. I can appreciate the need/want for a business card that stands out or represents a brand more clearly, but in the end the majority of people just need a simple, high quality business card.

  5. These are definitely indispensable tips for anyone looking to make a solid
    impression with their business card in the future. Cant wait for that to come.

  6. Much obliged to you for the all-around clarified data. It’s extremely useful that there are articles like this to help how we handle it, Keep sharing.

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