Virtual machine-readable tags using sensor data environmental signatures

Methods and systems detect a near field communication tap using a force detector of a portable computerized device, automatically sense current environmental conditions in response to the near field communication tap (using sensors of the portable computerized device) and automatically calculate a current location-based environmental signature based on the current environmental conditions sensed by the sensors, using a processor of the portable computerized device. Also, such methods and systems automatically match the current location-based environmental signature to a matching previously stored location-based environmental signature, using the processor and a communications device of the portable computing device. Such methods then automatically obtain a machine identification code associated with the matching previously stored location-based environmental signature from the non-transitory computer readable storage medium, using the processor and the communications device, and automatically process a workflow using the machine identification code and the processor.