The Fan Connect glossary.
Plain-English definitions of the technology, regulation, and strategy behind connected merchandise, smart tickets, and identified fan engagement.
Technology
NFCNear-Field Communication
A short-range wireless standard that lets a phone read a passive chip in a sticker, label, garment, or ticket with a single tap.
NTAG 424 DNA
An NXP NFC chip that signs every tap with a unique cryptographic message, making each scan verifiable and counterfeit-resistant.
GS1 Digital Link
A web-standard URL format from GS1 that encodes product identifiers (GTIN, batch, serial) so a single QR or NFC tag serves both retail and consumer-facing systems.
Strategy
First-Party Fan Data
Identity and behavioural data collected directly from a fan's own interactions — owned by the rights-holder, not rented from a platform.
Sponsor Activation
The measurable, fan-facing value a sponsor delivers on top of its logo placement — content, rewards, access, or experiences tied to verified fans.
The Fan Loop
Fan Connect's four-verb operating model: Activate the tap-point, Identify the fan, Recognise their value, Reward them — then repeat.