A smile, a hello (in a variety of languages), a conversation, and the final act, the sacred exchange of business cards. Well, that last bit might be no more if a US company’s idea takes hold – ditching paper business cards in favor of a more modern, technological approach.
According to the company, nine out of 10 business cards end up in the trash, which is why Mobilo developed a contactless business card that means you can share your contact details with just a tap.
The company said a tap of the Mobilo card on a smartphone opens a link with your contact details. Every near field communication- (NFC) powered Mobilo carries a QR code on the back.
Mobilo said its card eliminates the manual process of transferring data from cards into a contact list, and automatically syncs the information into a customer relationship management (CRM) system. Additionally, the company said it offers a lead generation tool that can generate more digital leads.
Every year more than 100bn business cards are manufactured globally, at a physical cost of around 6m trees. Some of these cards do get recycled, but most end up in landfills.
Mobilo said the eco-friendly cards help combat global warming and save money on paper cards.
Joey Madej, Nico Aberson, and Pieter Limburg founded Mobilo with an aim to eliminate the disadvantages of traditional business cards.
Mobilo said there are four functions to the card.
It acts as a digital business card: By tapping it on a smartphone, contact information will be shown on the screen.
It is also a social profile hub, with the ability to share LinkedIn or Facebook details, or a YouTube channel, or any other social media website.
Mobilo can also be a lead generation tool, the company said, and it can be used to link to any URL, such as product details or registration forms.
A range of card designs, or customized cards, is available. Recently, Mobilo launched Mobilo Wood, a business card made from responsibly-sourced material. Mobilo also plants a tree for every Mobilo wood card sold.
There are no additional fees, hidden costs, or limitations to the card, Mobilo said.