Spanish supplement company FITstore has pioneered a new Near Field Communication (NFC) technology aimed at helping patients remember to take their medications and supplements while also verifying product authenticity and traceability. The system allows users to access detailed product information simply by bringing their smartphone close to the packaging.

NFC technology could be particularly useful in Spain, one of the countries with the oldest populations and highest life expectancies in the globe. According to the company, up to 27% of patients in Spain admit to skipping their medication at least once a month due to forgetfulness.

FITstore fighting counterfeits

To combat counterfeits FITstore is integrating NFC technology into its supplements line of products. By scanning the labels with a smartphone, consumers will be able to instantly verify a product’s authenticity and trace its origins. Authenticity is increasingly important in a market as large as the suplement one. The value of the global dietary supplements market was estimated to be worth nearly US$152 billion in 2021. Moreover, the global market is expected to be worth US$300 billion by 2028, according to the US National Library of Medicine,

Furthermore, beyond product authentication, FITstore has identified that many users struggle to maintain a consistent supplement routine. The company notes that hectic modern schedules often make it difficult for consumers to remember whether they have taken their daily dose or when the next one is due. To solve this, the NFC technology enables users to schedule automatic reminders on their mobile calendars. “With this label, we provide a tool that helps our customers stay organized and consistent with their routines,” explains Luis Canada, founder of FITstore.

Rolling out to the market

The NFC-enabled labels will first be available in FITstore’s Match product line, with plans to expand the technology to other brands and companies potentially interested in adopting it. In the long run, the company aims to make NFC-based contactless product information a widely adopted industry standard.

FITstore’s move comes amid a broader expansion in digital health, a sector attracting increasing investment. According to the latest Digital Health 50 report, companies in this space have raised a total of US$3.5 billion in equity funding, with more than US$1.5 billion secured in 2024 alone. Moreover, 56% of these businesses are still in early stages, with the sector having a bright future ahead, according to the report and the US government growth predictions of the sector more than doubling in size by 2028.

The industry’s expansion extends beyond the largest economy in the world, the United States, with promising startups emerging from Germany, Canada, Israel, South Korea, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Belgium, and France.