In this article:
Premium Feature
Third-Party NFC Badge linking is a feature only available to users on the Premium and Business Pro plans.
About Third-Party NFC Badges
Companies with existing NFC staff access badges may choose to use them for authentication at the SmartBox, in place of one of the authentication options in the Keycafe system.
Which Badges Work?
Most badges with an NFC chip will work, such as most MIFARE DESFire cards. There are three qualifications for a badge to work:
- operates at 13.56mHz
- follows NDEF specifications
- has a constant ID (for example, YubiKeys do not work as they constantly change ID)
If you're not sure or would like to confirm, please contact our support team at support@keycafe.com or through live chat.
Important Security Note
Keycafe identifies third-party badges using the NFC chip's OEM UID. This value is generally independent of the encrypted data used by your corporate security system, ensuring no overlap or interference with your existing security infrastructure. However, because UIDs are not encrypted, these badges are technically susceptible to cloning. Always keep your badges and fobs secure, treat them as sensitive credentials, and never provide them to untrusted individuals.
How to Link a Third-Party NFC Badge
- On desktop, select Locations. On mobile, select More, then Private Locations.
- Select the location you'd like to edit → Settings → Toggle Badge Linking On.
- On SmartBox home screen, tap the now-showing Link New Badge button.
- Enter the user's Access Code or scan a Keycafe user badge, then scan the existing NFC staff access badge.
- Tap OK to confirm. The staff access badge is now be linked to the Keycafe user and can be used for authentication at the SmartBox.
Staff Poster
Here's a poster you can print and place next to your SmartBox to instruct staff on how to link their badge.