FAQs for people wanting iDMe on your phone to allow contactless check-in

1. I've now got the NZ Govt COVID Tracer App.  Do I still need to sign in with iDMe?

Yes.  NZ Government guidance requests that you still sign in to any contact tracing register maintained by the locations that you visit. This will ensure the location meets its contact tracing obligations and will make it easier for contact tracers to identify any close contacts if someone with COVID-19 is found to have visited that location.

2. How do I get my personal QR Code or the ability to check-in using a venue code?

Go to www.idme.co.nz and enter your details, then click the button to see your personal QR Code. Save it to your phone home screen.  If there's no iDMe scanner available and you want to check-in using a venue code, click the link titled Click here for manual sign-in. There's a printable flyer here.

3. Do I need to download and install a mobile app from the App Store or Google Play?

No. iDMe is a web app so works simply by you visiting www.idme.co.nz and saving your personal QR Code to you phone home screen.

4. Will iDMe still show my personal QR Code on my phone even if my phone doesn't have data and isn't connected to the internet?

Yes. As long as you firstly create your personal QR Code when you're online, you can then display it anytime you are offline.

5. I want to use iDMe for my children or the team mates in my team. Can I have more than one person on my phone?

Yes, after entering the details of the first person into iDMe on your phone, click the link to 'Add person' and enter the details of the next person, and so on. iDMe will store a personal QR Code for each person and you can scroll between them to either scan them in or use the check-in button to instantly check each person in using a 5 letter iDMe venue code. 

6. What if I don't have a phone?

You can visit www.idme.co.nz on a computer and enter your details to see your personal QR Code. You can print your QR Code and take it to be scanned, or you can check-in manually for a venue by entering its 5 character venue code from your computer if the venue has enabled this option. Alternatively, if you are with someone else who does have a phone, they can add you to iDMe on their phone along with their own and do the check-in for you.

7. Some other apps make me scan a venue's QR Code. Why does iDMe not let me scan a venue QR Code?

Actually, it does (only better). The cameras on many phones struggle to read QR Codes correctly. Remember that a QR Code simply contains details of the venue. iDMe solves this by providing a 5 letter venue code that can be read by a human and typed into a phone. This achieves exactly the same as requiring people to scan a QR Code at a location, but avoids the problems of phones that fail to scan. 

8. Who has access to my details?

When you generate your personal QR Code it is just stored on your own phone and no one has access to your details. Your details are only provided to a venue host when you scan your QR Code or submit their 5 character venue code to check-in. Your data is then stored in a secure database that only the venue host has access to. Your host is expected to make the contact records available to the Ministry of Health or their DBH upon request only for the purpose of contact tracing if it is believed that you may have come into contact with an individial diagnosed with COVID-19.

9. How long will the data be stored?

The data is stored for a period of 2 months in accordance with Ministry of Health guidelines, then automatically deleted.

10. Is there a limit to the number of scans on a day?

No, there is no limit.

11. Do I need to sign out of a location when I leave?

No. The government advice is that if a contact tracer ever needs to get in touch with you, they will ask you how long you were at the locations you visited.

12. Can I use my single iDMe to scan or check-in at multiple venue locations?

Yes. Your iDMe is a universal code that is the method of choice for all the major sports codes in New Zealand. So you can use your same personal QR code to check-in for football training as well as to watch your child's netball game for example.​​​​​​​

FAQs for organisations wanting a Contact Tracing Register

13. People have now got the NZ Govt COVID Tracer App.  Do we still need iDMe?

Yes.  NZ Government guidance requests that you still sign people in and maintain your own contact tracing register for each of your venues/locations. This will ensure you meet your contact tracing obligations and will make it easier for contact tracers to identify any close contacts if someone with COVID-19 is found to have visited your venue/location.

14. How does the QR Code scanner module work?

The QR Code scanner module is built into Sporty. It lets a venue, facility, event, school, club or sports organiser login to Sporty from a smartphone or tablet and start the QR Code reader on that device. Each time it reads an iDMe personal QR Code it adds the person's contact details to the Sporty database for your organisation.

15. What devices will the QR Code scanner module work with?

It works with most iPads and iPhones from iPhone 6 upwards as well as most Samsung Galaxies as long as they are not too old. Note that if you are using an iPhone you should use Safari when you go to start the scanner (not Chrome). This is because Apple does not allow Chrome to access the camera on iPhones.

16. How does our organisation get access to the QR Code scanner module?

Every sports organisation, club and school in New Zealand has now automatically been given access to the QR Code scanner module. It is free for the purpose of community sport in New Zealand. To get started, please follow the instructions in this Administrator User Guide

17. Is there a cost?

No. iDMe is being provided to all non-profit community sports organisations as a free initiative from Sporty.co.nz - New Zealand's largest provider of online solutions for Kiwi sports. If you want to use iDMe for a school reception, business or other commercial purposes, it's available for a low flat subscription fee.

18. Can multiple scanners operate at the same time?

Yes, there is no limit to the number of QR Code scanners you have running concurrently.

19. Does the iDMe scanner module require an internet connection?

Yes. You'll need internet access for the scanner to go to Sporty.co.nz and login to start your scanner. It will also use the internet to save each record it scans into your contact tracing database.

20. Does the iDMe scanner module use much data?

No. You can scan in over 5,000 people using less data than sharing a single photo from your phone.

21. Using a phone as a QR scanner is not practical for our sport. Can we still use iDMe?

Yes. Your organisation can login to Sporty and generate unique 5 character venue codes for as many locations as you wish. Please see Step 12 of this Admin User Guide. Let people know your venue codes on your website, Facebook or a poster at the venue. People can then enter your 5 character venue code into iDMe on their phone to check-in without needing to be scanned.

22. Are people required to scan out?

No. The government advice is that if a contact tracer ever needs to get in touch with someone, they will ask you how long they were at the locations they visited. However, if you wish, a second scanner can be running simultaneously at an exit point if you wish. When you start the scanner module, you are able to set the scanner location, such as 'Entry A'.

23. Where is the contact data stored?

The contact details of each person who scans in or performs a self check-in are automatically added to a secure database that is accessible only to the host organisation when they login to the Sporty platform. Each record includes the location, date and time of attendance.

24. Can we add extra questions or gather extra information from people via their QR code?

Currently iDMe automatically provides the following fields of data: First name, Last name, Address, Email, Phone number, Scan date, Scan time, Scan location (optional). If your organisation requires additional data and you have budget available, we may be able to develop a solution for you. Please contact our sales team to enquire.

25. How long does the data remain stored?

NZ Government guidelines now recommend that contact tracing data is stored for 2 months. iDMe check-in data is therefore automatically deleted once it is 2 months old.

26. Can I export the contact tracing records from our database?

Yes. Login to Sporty and click the Export link to export your records to CSV file (Excel format). Remember though that you must comply with privacy legislation in the way you store and retain the data.

27. How does our organisation get a login for the Sporty platform?

There is already a login reserved for every sports club, association and school in New Zealand. Find your organisation here, then click the Admin Login link at the bottom of your organisation's page. If you don't already have a username, click the Register Here link that is visible on the login screen. Online support is here. Once you have logged in, go to the Dashboard (4 green squares at top left of the screen) and select the Online Registrations tile. You can then see your iDMe contact register database and the green QR scanner button that turns your device into a QR Code Scanner.

28. Can I try out the QR Code scanner module?

Yes. The QR Code scanner works with most modern smartphones and tablets. This includes iPhones from the iPhone 6 and SE upwards, most modern Samsungs and iPads. We recommend you try it yourself before you start using it for the public. Firstly you'll need an iDMe personal QR Code to scan. So, if you don't have two devices, visit iDMe on your computer and print a copy of your own personal QR Code from there. Then login to Sporty from the smartphone or tablet you'll use as a scanner, and follow the Admin User Guide to start the scanner. Scan in your personal QR Code and then take a look in your iDMe database back in Sporty to see that your scanned details have appeared there.

28. Can I try out the 5 character venue codes?

Yes. Follow the instructions from the Admin User Guide Step 12 here to create a venue code for your venue. Then open iDMe on your phone with your own details and click the link above your personal QR Code to check-in with a venue code. Enter your 5 character venue code in iDMe and tap the Check-in button.  If you then login to your Sporty iDMe database you'll see that your details have automatically been added to the iDMe contact tracing register there.

29. Can we delete contact tracing records taken in error or during testing?

Yes. Login to Sporty and go into your iDMe database. You'll see all the contact tracing records that have been scanned in. Click the trashcan button beside a record to delete it. Note: we recommend using a laptop or desktop computer when you're working in the database view, since a large screen makes it easier to see and work with.

30. How do I exit or close the QR Code scanner?

Simply click on the X in the top right hand corner of the screen, then click Close iDMe.​​​​​​​

31. Is there a User Guide for administrators? 

Yes, there is an Admin User Guide here.