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Why do I need software or an integration to process the payload?

Paul Tomes avatar
Written by Paul Tomes
Updated over 3 weeks ago

When an NFC pass is tapped, it transmits a payload (a piece of data). This is restricted to a relatively small amount of just 64 characters. But by itself, this payload doesn’t do anything—it’s just information.

Think of it like a barcode: scanning a barcode gives you a number, but you still need a point-of-sale (POS) system or backend integration to interpret that number (e.g., “this item costs $5” or “this coupon is valid”).

The same is true for NFC payloads:

  • The payload is the identifier.

  • Your software system (POS, CRM, loyalty platform, etc.) decides what to do with it.

👉 Without integration, the payload is just data. With integration, you can link it to actions like:

  • Redeeming a coupon

  • Identifying a loyalty member

  • Checking in at an event

  • Recording a transaction

In short: PassKit lets you define the payload, but you’ll need software to handle what happens after the tap.

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