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.