The growth in popularity of such a large-scale trend as a tap payment using NFC technology is obvious. It is a comfortable and reliable payment format. This trend is dynamically reflected in the increase of issued NFC-enabled UZCARD cards number, which already reached 1 million cards threshold today. In addition, the number of one-touch transactions is increasing every year.
In all UZCARD payment solutions, the key values are the speed of transactions, security, convenience and, definitely, awareness of citizens about the benefits of NFC technology. Thanks to this technology, the client only has to tap the card to the reader in order to withdraw the cash, pay for services or for other necessary operations. The scope of application of this technology is extensive, it is used for making purchases in stores, paying in public transport, withdrawing cash from ATMs.
NFC technology is already known to owners of UZCARD co-badged cards, as well as to owners of new UZCARD cards. At the same time, all these cards are dual, which means that payments are made both by contact and contactless methods.
The payment infrastructure has also been widely developed. Today, NFC is also used in UZCARD ATMs starting from July 2021, and currently there are about 2000 of them in the country. In addition, partner banks continue to constantly expand the fleet of this type of equipment.
NFC technology is also available in terminals installed today in stores, cafes, pharmacies, gas stations and other retail outlets across the country. Contactless payment can significantly reduce customer service time in places where a large number of people are served at the same time and instant payment authorization is required, but the purchase amount is relatively small.
UZCARD constantly develops and improves products operating NFC technology, which allows to increase their scope of application and reliability. One of such projects was the introduction of an automated cashless public transport payment system. Within the project, the issue of unified general-purpose transport cards with an NFC chip was carried out. An innovative project for the issuance of universal student plastic cards integrated with the system for paying for public transport is at the implementation stage. New NFC-enabled student cards allow university students to use them not only when paying for transport, but also to use the internal amenities of the university, i.e. at the entrance to the building, inside the territory, as well as when receiving books in the library. The project will optimize the educational process, potentially increase the quality of education and life of students.