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Photo ID technology has been in use for over 100 years. Prior
to the early 1990’s, the most common way of producing
an ID card was known as the cut-and-paste or film-based method.
This involved taking a person’s photo, cutting it out,
then laminating it to a card-sized piece of paper containing
the person’s data. The results of this labor-intensive
method were cards that weren’t very durable and were
easy to alter.
Today, digital printing has become the technology of choice
for organizations issuing identification cards. Digital
ID Card Systems are now:
- Affordable
- Easy to use
- Fast production times
- Low per-card cost
- Single-step printing and encoding
- Magnetic stripe, barcode, proximity, smart card
or
biometric
technology options
- Powerful database options
- Highly durable cards
- Difficult to counterfeit
- Faster, easier badge replacement
- Far less labor
An ID Card System typically consists of a printer/encoder, card design software capabilities, a digital
camera, cards, ribbons and supplies. How you intend to use
your cards is vital in determining what system is best suited
for your applications. For best results, involve a systems integrator
early in your selection process.
The most basic reason for an ID Card System is to identify people. Typically, organizations like to identify people for safety or security reasons. Photo ID Cards let you quickly identify who is authorized to be in or around your facility and who is not.
- Instant Security
- Easy Automation
Today, photo ID
systems can do much more than just secure your organization.
By using bar codes, magnetic stripes, or "smart"
chips on your cards, ID card systems can conveniently automate
a variety of facility or operational functions.
For example, ID
cards can be used with access control systems to restrict access to rooms, buildings
or parking lots. Today's ID cards can even be used for tracking time and attendance, or regulating
admission to sporting events, theme parks, resorts, clubs,
and much more.
Organizations everywhere use ID Cards for
a multitude of applications. What could you use your system
for?
| Employee IDs |
Photo IDs |
Club Membership |
| Access Control |
Phone Cards |
Healthcare Cards |
| Loyalty Cards |
Customized Gift Cards |
Discount Cards |
| Government IDs |
Visitor IDs |
Proximity Cards |
| Business Cards |
Event Management |
Parking Lot Access |
| Time & Attendance |
Season Passes |
Law Enforcement Badges |
| Cafeteria Payments |
Schedules |
Hunting & Fishing Licenses |
| Debit Cards |
Trade Show Promotions |
Inventory Cards |
| Event Passes |
Computer/Network Access |
...and more |
Even if you plan to use badges only for visual identification,
consider possible future applications. You may not need or
have the budget for an integrated system with encoding right
now, but you might next year. Make sure the system you buy
today will be able to handle your needs tomorrow. WincoID
can help you with all of these considerations up front, and
help you get the maximum value out of your investment.
- How are your ID cards going to be used?
- Will your card be part of an access control/security
program?
- Will you need to assign users different levels of security
clearance?
- Do you need to secure multiple sites?
- How many cards will you issue per year?
- How long do the cards need to last?
- Will cards be printed on one or two sides?
- How much personalized information will the cards contain?
- Will you need to badge employees at several locations?
- What level of card security will you need?
To receive a FREE Guide to Selecting a Photo ID System, and additional product information, call us at 1-800-325-5260. |
