Thinfilm has announced a partnership with the Korean Red Cross in South Korea. The two groups are collaborating to replace the paper-based confirmation process currently used by the Korean Red Cross in its Windmill of Hope program to verify delivery and receipt of relief items and services such as food, clothing, and medication.

The new solution will leverage Thinfilm’s NFC SpeedTap tags to drive program efficiency and ease administrative burdens for program directors. The NFC technology will also ensure full transparency regarding the exchange of goods between volunteers and those who receive support.

The Korean Red Cross has developed a custom web interface that integrates with the SpeedTap technology. A volunteer can simply scan a delivery receipt containing a SpeedTap tag with a smartphone or NFC device once a transaction is completed. The scan instantly confirms the exchange of goods and/or services and sends related data to the Korean Red Cross’ cloud database in real-time for recordkeeping, reporting and analysis.

The Windmill of Hope program was launched in 2012 by the Korean Red Cross as a major humanitarian support initiative in South Korea. It was created to provide customized, integrated human services to low-income families and other socioeconomically vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, North Korean immigrants, and multi-cultural families. Red Cross volunteers are matched up with vulnerable people and make timely visits to deliver goods and ensure the well-being of those in need.

“The Windmill of Hope program helps improve the quality of life for so many less fortunate people in South Korea,” says Kim Gunn-joong, secretary general of the Korean Red Cross. “We believe using NFC technology to enhance our processes, drive efficiency and increase transparency will enable the Korean Red Cross to be even more effective in delivering much needed support.”

It is anticipated that, through the Windmill of Hope program, NFC technology will reach more than 20,000 households in South Korea.

“The Korean Red Cross provides a tremendous amount of humanitarian support to those in need in South Korea, and it’s exciting to know that Thinfilm’s NFC technology is helping to enhance their relief efforts,” says Davor Sutija, CEO of Thinfilm. “We are proud to partner with such an esteemed organization and look forward to launching this exciting program.”