Office NFC Tag is a time-tracking method that lets employees start and end work, as well as breaks, by scanning a shared NFC tag placed in the office. The employee scans the tag using their own phone with the Calamari mobile app installed, and the action performed is automatically saved in their time record.
How does the Office NFC Tag differ from the standard NFC method in Calamari?
Calamari offers two different time-tracking methods that use NFC technology:
Standard NFC method (employee NFC IDs): each employee has their own individual NFC ID, card, or keyfob. The employee taps it against a shared Android tablet located at the workplace.
Office NFC Tag: there is one shared NFC tag or card in the office. Each employee scans it using their own phone with the Calamari mobile app.
The key difference, then, is what gets scanned and with which device. In the standard method, the employee has their own ID and uses a shared tablet. With the Office NFC Tag, the tag itself is shared, and the employee uses their own phone.
Throughout the rest of this article, Office NFC Tag always refers to the shared tag placed at the workplace and scanned by employees with their own phones. It does not refer to individual NFC IDs scanned on a tablet.
Before you start
To set up and use the Office NFC Tag, you will need:
the Time Tracking module in Calamari,
a phone running iOS or Android that supports NFC,
the latest version of the Calamari mobile app,
an NFC tag or card to be placed at the workplace.
💡 We recommend using NTAG213 or NTAG215 tags or cards.
💡 Where can I find one? NTAG213 and NTAG215 are standard, widely available NFC chip types — not tied to any specific brand or supplier. You'll find compatible tags, cards, and keyfobs at most electronics retailers and online marketplaces; searching for "NTAG213 NFC tag" or "NTAG215 NFC card" is usually enough to find plenty of options.
💡 Make sure that both the person configuring the tag and the employees who will use it have the latest available version of the Calamari mobile app installed.
How to set up the Office NFC Tag?
Before employees can start tracking their time, the tag needs to be added and programmed in the Calamari app.
Open the Calamari mobile app.
Go to More → Methods.
Select Office NFC Tag (Calamari App) (1).
Tap the + button to add a new NFC tag or card.
Select Scan NFC card (2), then hold the tag close to your phone so Calamari can read its ID.
Enter a name for the tag (3), for example the name of the office or location where it will be placed.
In the Default project section (4), you can optionally define which project time will be logged against by default.
In the Employee access section (5), decide who can use the tag:
Entire company, or
Selected employees.
Tap Save (6).
When prompted, hold the tag close to your phone again to program it. Wait for confirmation that the NFC tag has been programmed correctly.
Once configuration is complete, place the tag near the office entrance or in another location employees can easily access.
You can configure several tags if employees log their time at different offices, locations, or multiple entrances. Give each tag a clear, unique name so you can easily identify it in Calamari.
How do employees use the Office NFC Tag?
Once the tag is set up, employees can use it to log their work time and breaks using their own phones.
Starting work
Open the Calamari mobile app.
Select the option to start work via NFC.
Hold your phone close to the NFC tag or card.
Wait for Calamari to confirm that work has started
The start time will be automatically added to the employee's time record.
Starting or ending a break
In the Calamari mobile app, select the appropriate break option.
Hold your phone close to the same NFC tag or card.
Wait for confirmation that the break has started or ended.
The information will be saved directly in the employee's time record.
Ending work
In the Calamari mobile app, select the option to end work.
Hold your phone close to the NFC tag or card.
Wait for Calamari to confirm that work has ended.
The end time will be automatically added to the employee's time record.
Each employee performs these actions on their own Calamari account, so every scan is recorded under the correct employee profile.
Managing access to the Office NFC Tag
During setup, you can make the tag available to the entire company or restrict access to selected employees. This is useful when only people working at a specific office or location should be able to use a given tag.
Employees who have not been granted access to the tag will not be able to use it to log their time.
Troubleshooting
The NFC option is not visible in the mobile app
The NFC option is not visible in the mobile app
Make sure the app has been updated to the latest version. If the option is still unavailable, close and reopen the app, and check that your phone supports NFC and that the feature is enabled.
The phone doesn't detect the tag
The phone doesn't detect the tag
Make sure NFC is enabled on your phone.
Hold the phone directly against the tag for a moment.
Gently reposition the phone — the location of the NFC antenna varies by device.
Check that you're using a supported tag or card. We recommend NTAG213 or NTAG215.
An employee can't use a configured tag
An employee can't use a configured tag
Check the settings in the Employee access section and make sure the employee has been granted access to the tag. The employee should also be logged into the correct Calamari account and be using the latest version of the mobile app.
Need help?
If you have questions about configuring NFC tags or need support during setup, contact the Calamari Support team.