How AFC Bournemouth Cut Admin Time by 40% with Digital Cards

In professional sports and commercial partnerships, networking is everything. For AFC Bournemouth, traditional business cards were slow, wasteful, and no longer aligned with their digital-first, high-performance culture. That’s why they upgraded to V1CE digital business cards.

Like many professionals, the Bournemouth team relied on traditional business cards at events, meetings, and matchdays. However, this meant frequent reprints, manual data entry, and lots of paper waste. Rob and his team were ready for something better—something smarter.

Since implementing V1CE:

The team has eliminated nearly all paper business card usage
Updates to contact info are made in real time, reducing manual data entry
Assistants spend less time on admin and more time on valuable client support
The team now reaches more leads with greater efficiency and fewer tools

"We’d absolutely recommend V1CE to other businesses," Rob says. "It’s about networking smarter. About standing out. And making sure that your first impression says something positive about your company."

About AFC Bournemouth

AFC Bournemouth is a Premier League football club constantly striving for high performance—both on and off the pitch. For Rob Mitchell, the club’s Commercial Director, maintaining strong relationships with partners, sponsors, and VIP clients is essential to commercial success. But their networking process was stuck in the past.

"We were getting fed up with having loads of business cards," Rob recalls. "And the environmental impact of having to print so many for all the staff at the club wasn’t sitting right with us either."

The Challenge

Before V1CE, AFC Bournemouth’s commercial team had to deal with the usual struggles of traditional business cards. Contact details were frequently outdated, especially when a staff member's job title or role changed. Updates meant reprinting, redistributing, and dealing with bulk orders. Not to mention the issue of cards being misplaced or thrown away.

"As much as 40% of our admin team's time was spent coordinating contact information—updating Outlook, double-entering into the CRM, and manually sending reminders for meetings," Rob explains. "It was becoming a logistical headache."

Those inefficiencies for a football club engaging in high-touch client relationships started to eat into valuable time and impact the overall networking experience. At one point, Rob considered additional staff hires to keep up with the process.

Then, a client gave them a reality check: “When I book a dentist appointment, they just send me a link. Why can’t it be that easy for you guys?”

It was time for a smarter way to network.

The Solution: From Paper Problems to Digital Solutions

Rob and his team discovered V1CE while researching modern ways to enhance contact sharing during networking events. The appeal was instant.

“The idea of having one plastic, branded card that could instantly upload our contact info onto someone’s phone—it felt like a game-changer,” Rob says.

V1CE allowed them to ditch the paper entirely and adopt a sleek, branded smart business card that impressed prospects and customers while streamlining workflows behind the scenes. No app downloads were required, no complicated QR code scanning, and no friction. Whether the recipient had an iPhone or Android phone, it just worked.

“We just tap the card and it sends the digital card right to their device. It looks professional, it’s up to date, and it reflects our brand in a much stronger way,” Rob says.

The team could even add useful tools like CRM integrations and link their smart cards to booking platforms, reducing the need for follow-up emails and creating smoother client experiences. V1CE also offers a home screen widget for quick and easy access to digital business cards.

Rolling Out V1CE Across the Club

The setup process was simple. Rob and his team began with a small trial, testing how V1CE performed during in-person meetings and industry events. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

"The adoption was immediate. It only took a few events for the team to realize this wasn’t just a gimmick—it was a tool that genuinely improved how we networked," Rob explains.

Once it proved successful, the rollout expanded. From day one, new hires were onboarded with their V1CE digital business cards. Updates were handled from a central admin dashboard. There was no more chasing down paper cards or manually entering contact information into systems.

"One of my colleagues manages all the contact detail updates," Rob says. "It’s easy to keep everything accurate and ensure consistency."

V1CE also helped with offboarding. If a staff member left, their card could be reassigned or deactivated instantly, keeping the company’s brand safe and secure.

A Better Experience for Everyone

From clients and partners to internal teams, the impact of switching to a digital business card solution was immediate. With real-time updates and centralized info management, the team experienced a more fluid and effective networking process.

"We’re no longer scrambling to follow up after events or trying to remember which contact was from which meeting," Rob shares. "Everything is logged, consistent, and instantly shareable."

That ease of use extends to events with high traffic and fast interactions. Whether it’s a sponsorship activation or a hospitality gathering, Rob’s team can hand off contact info in seconds, make a lasting impression, and keep the flow moving.

Sustainability That Makes a Statement

AFC Bournemouth has long been committed to reducing waste and operating sustainably. Their switch from paper business cards to V1CE’s digital platform aligned perfectly with that mission.

"It’s a small but powerful way to cut down on unnecessary printing and do our part for the environment," Rob says.

Thousands of paper cards were eliminated from their operations, and the shift to branded NFC cards reinforced the club’s image as a modern, forward-thinking organization.

Conclusion: Why Smart Business Cards Win
AFC Bournemouth’s shift to V1CE shows the power of integrating innovative, digital tools into daily business operations. This isn’t just about going paperless. It’s about: The digital business card isn’t just working—it’s transforming how professionals connect.