TRADE FAIR ACTIVITY
90 | 91
The International
Association of Congress
Centres awarded the
innovative accreditation
system «NFC Badge»,
developed by Fira
and GSMA
Award for the technological efforts
The International Association of Congress Centres
(IACC) gave the Barcelona trade fair institution
the Best Innovation award for its «NFC Badge»,
the virtual pass by mobile phone that visitors and
exhibitors could use during the 2013 event of
Mobile World Congress.
It was the first time that this innovative technique,
based on NFC (Near Field Communications)
technique, which allows to replace traditional
physical accreditations by mobile phones
reducing waiting time practically to zero, was used
massively at a trade fair venue.
This solution, developed jointly by GSMA
(an association representing more than 800
companies in the mobile ecosystem around the
world and organiser of MWC) and the Operations
department of Fira de Barcelona, was widely
accepted by visitors: 10,500 delegates used it
over five days and 19,000 scans were registered
in the 18 points of access.
The virtual accreditation by mobile phone
also reduces the environmental impact of
congresses, by eliminating the need to print
paper or plastic accreditations for visitors.
In addition, this new technology opens the door
to new services for delegates, such as
downloading on their phones information
about seminars or even discount vouchers for
restaurants or touristic attractions in the city.
The advantages for the organization are also
many: connecting directly and individually with
show participants by sending personalised
notifications to their smartphones.
The development of the «NFC Badge» is part of
the programme of onsite experience refinement
through technological innovation carried out by
Fira. During 2013, mobile apps were developed
for different events with relevant information for
