During Paris Fashion Week, Saint Laurent’s Women SS26 show set a new standard not only for fashion but also for guest experience. For the first time, the brand introduced NFC-based guest check-in powered by Magnetiq event management software. This combined elegance, speed, and security at the entrance of one of the most exclusive runways of the season.
A Seamless Tap-to-Check-In Experience
Saint Laurent is the first to adopt Magnetiq’s NFC Check-in module. This new feature enables staff to check in event guests with a simple tap of an iPhone on the paper invitation they presented at the entrance. There was no need to scan a QR code or search for a name — just a discreet, seamless gesture that felt natural and elegant.
This approach sped up and elevated the welcoming process. The check-in moment became nearly invisible to guests, reinforcing the curated, high-touch atmosphere of the brand’s show at Place de Varsovie.
A New Layer of Security
High-profile events face significant access security risks. Some guests may attempt to forge invitations or pass them on to others after the initial checks. Saint Laurent needed a solution that would make fraudulent entries impossible — without disrupting the pace or elegance of guest reception.
Magnetiq’s new NFC module let the team securely pair each invitation with a single guest identity. The system ensured that no tag could link to more than one person.
The Magnetiq NFC check-in app for iOS would instantly flag any attempt to reuse a tag, allowing the security and PR teams to maintain full control at the event entrance. It prevented entry issues at the gate, without slowing the flow of check-in.
This added an invisible layer of validation — discreet, secure, and perfectly aligned with the high standards of the event.
A Smart Setup Behind the Scenes
Bringing the NFC check-in experience to life required a blend of thoughtful design and seamless technology. All this was achieved without compromising the event’s elegance.
1. Elegant Invitations with Embedded NFC
Saint Laurent’s paper invitation is an iconic object, enriched with personalized details handwritten by a calligrapher. The goal was to preserve its minimalist design while making the embedded NFC tag invisible. To achieve this, the Saint Laurent team produced invitations with the chip hidden between two glued layers of paper. The result was a secure, tech-enabled invitation that maintained the tactile luxury expected from a high-fashion runway show.
2. Smart Pairing with the Magnetiq iOS App
Using the Magnetiq iOS app in NFC Pairing Mode, the Saint Laurent PR team individually linked each invitation to its assigned guest.
The attendee list displayed the pairing status for each guest. It showed who still needed to be paired and who was already linked. Staff could filter the list accordingly and initiate the pairing process with just a tap.
Once ready, they simply tapped the iPhone to the invitation. The app instantly wrote the guest identity to the NFC tag and confirmed the association.
The system allowed staff to link each NFC tag to a single guest identity at a time. If a tag already contained data, the system would prompt the user to overwrite or cancel. This ensured complete control over every step. A special “read-only” mode also allowed staff to scan and verify existing tags without modifying them.
Thanks to this intuitive and guided workflow, the team was able to prepare hundreds of secure invitations quickly and confidently. There was no extra hardware or technical barriers.
Fast and Reliable Check-In at the Gate
On the night of the show, the access control staff set the Magnetiq iOS app to Check-in Mode. They then used it to validate guest entry: each guest presented their paper invitation, which the security team scanned with a simple tap.
The app instantly showed one of three clear responses:
- ✅ Valid check-in — the app registered the guest successfully
- ⚠️ Already checked in — the tag had already been used
- ❌ Tag not assigned — the tag was not linked to any guest
This immediate feedback helped both the security team and PR staff manage guest access smoothly, while maintaining full control over the process. There was no need for QR scans, manual lookups, or secondary devices — just a single, discreet gesture that verified each guest’s identity and status.
Even under the live pressure of Paris Fashion Week, the system proved intuitive, stable, and frictionless. This allowed staff to deliver a flawless guest experience at one of the most high-profile shows of the season.
Real-Time Synchronization Across Devices
Magnetiq’s NFC check-in system works in real time. As long as the device has a stable connection, each check-in is instantly transmitted to the server and shared across all other devices being used at the event. This means that if a guest attempts to re-use the same invitation at a different access point, the system will immediately flag the issue — no matter where the second scan takes place.
This real-time synchronization enhances both security and coordination. It allows staff to work from multiple entrances or zones while relying on a shared source of truth — ensuring accurate, up-to-date information at all times.
Reliable, Even with Poor or No Connectivity
Magnetiq’s NFC check-in system works reliably even when internet connectivity is weak or unavailable.
When a device cannot connect to the server, the app saves check-in data locally. As soon as the connection is restored, the data is automatically synced with the backend — ensuring complete and up-to-date attendance statistics.
The only limitation in offline mode is the lack of real-time sync between devices. This means that staff using different phones may temporarily see incomplete data. However, check-in can continue seamlessly on each device.
This makes NFC check-in a secure and dependable solution, even in remote or crowded venues.
One App, Multiple Teams, Seamless Coordination
With Magnetiq iOS app, both the Security and PR teams operated from a shared, synchronized system. Each used it to serve a different purpose, without switching tools.
- At the entrance, the security team used the app in Check-in Mode, validating invitations with a simple NFC tap. This allowed for fast, secure access control, with each scan providing instant feedback on the guest’s status.
- Inside the venue, the PR team welcomed guests and supported their experience by locating their assigned seat in seconds. Using the visual seating plan directly in the app, staff could tap on a guest’s name to highlight their seat and accompany them personally. This ensured a warm, efficient, and premium welcome.
This shared infrastructure helped keep the entire guest journey connected, from the moment of arrival to being seated. No switching between tools, no delays — just one intuitive interface, purpose-built for fashion and luxury events.
Looking Ahead
Saint Laurent’s successful use of Magnetiq NFC check-in marks a new chapter in luxury event management. By replacing traditional scanning with secure tap-to-check-in flows, the brand not only increased security and speed but delivered an experience that felt modern and exclusive — without adding friction for staff or guests.
The feedback from the event is already helping to inform future improvements. We look forward to expanding the use of NFC at other premium events in the months to come.
Interested in activating NFC check-in for your next event?
Reach out to our team to learn more about how the feature works and whether it’s right for your workspace.