Idesco Corporation Blog

When you Google, "How to customize employee ID cards," you'll find thousands of options, many of which want to control the process and print the cards for you. Most companies today, however, need an ID card/badge solution that you control on-site. You'll need something different.

Instances of workplace and school violence happen too often, making security a prime issue today. To protect your employees, students, assets, and more, you need good building security strategies. One of the easiest to implement and manage is a visitor management solution.

Determining whether to laminate your ID cards is a key question to answer before you choose an ID card printer. Why? Because not all ID card printers can laminate, which will somewhat restrict your choices. Beyond that, laminating cards offers a variety of benefits, adds extra costs, and takes more time than non-laminated cards. Weigh each option carefully before you make your decision.

The most common types of event credentials are badges and wristbands. Attendees usually wear badges on a lanyard or another holder around their neck or pinned to their clothing. They're considered more "professional" or "business-like" than a wristband.

Wristbands, while more informal, are perfect for venues where your attendees move around a lot or participate in activities. They come in a one-size-fits-all, are easy for anyone to wear, and you can color code them for easy visual identification.

A lot of environmental factors can affect your ID cards like strong sunlight, frequent swiping and handling, high heat environments, dust and dirt, and so much more. For example, some employees toss their ID cards on their car's dashboard which can cause cards to fade or the dye and images to seep. Combined, these factors reduce your ID cards' lifespan, meaning you reprint cards more often, adding to the total of your employee ID card program costs.

How many visitors do you see on a daily basis? If you only see two or you process dozens, it's challenging to manage these appointments and keep detailed records of who's visiting, who they're seeing, and where they're going. Especially if you're trying to keep manual paper logs, you're losing not only control over who's on site, but you're giving up records of who's visiting who, for how long, and whether they were planned or unplanned. Each of these elements may bring information your management needs to know.

The COVID-19 outbreak is impacting all of us in unprecedented ways. While we are currently in full operation, we continue to monitor this situation and have implemented precautions to ensure the health and safety of our staff and customers.

Some of these precautions include:

• Advisories of personal hygiene and social distancing techniques;
• Provisioning our workplace with sanitary supplies to inhibit the spread of the virus at work and in the community.
• Work-from-home options have been instated where possible for our staff.

To "shield" something means to protect it. You can imagine employee ID cards needing protection from adverse weather, heavy wear and tear, or excess heat and humidity. Most normal badge holders will help with those conditions. So, what might you need to shield your employee ID cards from that requires a special badge holder?

Discover our wide range of visitor sign-in books record visitor entry and exit confidentially, protecting everyone's privacy and providing visitor badges for secure identification. Two new Visitor Badge designs can help you identify and contact your visitors. Both come in books that make it easy to Sign-In and Badge visitors.

All ID card printers are similar in that they use a color ribbon to produce images, graphics, and text on a PVC ID card. However, getting that information on the face of an ID card is different depending on the ID card printer you choose. Let's look closer at the two different ID cards printers and how they work.

Now that you've picked your ID card printer and figured out a design for the perfect badge, it's time to turn your attention to the perfect badge accessories. But how do you determine what's best for your employees/students/others, what meets their and your company's security needs, and works within your company's budget?

Here are a few questions you should ask (and answer) before deciding on the perfect badge accessories for your ID card program.

ID cards and badges are important for a variety of reasons. You may need visual identification for security personnel to know who belongs in your facility and who doesn't. Some companies need more functionality from their cards like access control and payment ability. These are just a small peek at what an ID card can do. More options make it hard to determine what's most important to consider when picking out an ID card printer.

Your employees or students may need their ID cards to provide access to rooms or labs, or they may need a card to track attendance/hours. Or both! Others need ID cards or badges for security reasons, so personnel can see at a glance who belongs and who doesn't. Also, encoded technology is a big reason for issuing cards to employees, students, customers, contractors, and more. Technology lets you control access, offer payment options, verify membership, and so much more.

You might not consider how nefarious individuals’ scheme to steal your personal information, but it happens with the popular RFID cards that transmit information anytime they come in range of a reader designed to access the information. Today's credit cards and employee ID cards (particularly for governmental entities) used RFID technology to transmit information and allow access to sensitive data and/or security clearance information restricted by the government.

Whether private, public, government, NGO, or non-profit, most organizations today require employee ID cards for identification purposes. From small businesses with less than 50 employees to enterprises with thousands, security is a real issue. And an easy, cost-effective security measure you can put in place is the perfect employee ID badge.

If you're like most, however, you don't give a lot of thought to your ID cards' design. But your design is important for several reasons: safety and security measures, access control, customer relations, and even company branding.

Whether you are part of a large company campus with multiple buildings, a hospital, school or university, or a small business, you are responsible for the safety of everyone on site. This includes not only employees and students but contractors, guests, delivery personnel, and others as well. Today's reality is that you must keep your workplace, school, hospital, etc., safe from violence. Your first safety measure should be a visitor management system. These systems are comprehensive and include plenty of safeguards to help you manage, track, and identify everyone in your facility. But that's not all you need.

The short answer is: You can, but it's tricky.

Standard office printers handle business-specific printing jobs, mainly on standard A-4 paper. Whether your office uses a laser or inkjet printer, they're both designed for paper of a certain dimension. And most office printers can only handle paper of a certain heaviness and thickness. A PVC card such as employee ID cards, debit/credit cards, loyalty cards, and more are considerably thicker than paper.

You don't need the "best of the best, sir" with an ID camera for your employee or student ID card program. But you need a camera that will capture true images of individuals that others can easily and quickly identify as being the card holder. Here are a few features you must have on your ID camera to make sure everyone's cards meet your company's needs and your security force and one that others can quickly identify who belongs and who doesn't.

Whether you're a school system, a hospital, or a corporation, no one should have access to all your facilities. In fact, you should restrict access to reduce risk of violence and subterfuge. Today's world needs ID cards to restrict access to labs that contain volatile substances or to corporate proprietary information. A proximity card restricts access to only those areas for which you clear the cardholder. Nefarious individuals can't get into a college lab that contains hazardous chemicals, nor would such persons be able to gain access to patient rooms and other locations in a hospital—if they don't have the right access privileges.

If you thought a visitor badge meant an adhesive label with "Hello, my name is…" on which visitors hand write their name, it's important to know that you have options. Dozens of options. And the option you choose depends on your security needs and a few questions to answer before making your decision.

The following simple questions will help you decide what type of visitor badge best serves your needs.

Well, actually, you can. But it takes several more steps than using ID software tailored for creating and printing beautiful ID cards for your employees, students, guests, and others. We looked at both Microsoft (MS) Word and an ID-specific software program. Here's what we found.

Every business today needs a custom badge that identifies him or her job title and restricted areas he or she has access to. Beyond needing badges that promote your brand, you must keep safety and security foremost when issuing badges. Here are a few reasons to consider custom badge accessories to help you manage your security needs, cardholder privacy requirements, and promote your organization's brand and message.

Just like you would research different car models to compare features and benefits, research ID card printers before investing in new equipment. At a minimum, you need to know the following terms and their impact on your decision BEFORE talking to a salesperson.

Just when you think it's easy to set up an ID card program for your employees, students, or others, you discover there are different types of ID cards from which to choose. How do you know what you'll need for your program today and for your future needs?

The simple answer is: It depends on the supplies.

Ribbons and cleaning kits are manufacturer-specific. You shouldn't try to swap out less expensive or generic options because these two factors greatly affect your ID card printer's veracity and quality. ID card printer manufacturers engineer both printer ribbons and cleaning kits for their specific models. You're best served to choose manufacturer-recommended ribbons and cleaning kits to keep your ID card printer in tip-top condition for years to come.

Where you can finagle a bit is with the PVC cards you use.

Some people don't like their pictures taken; others don't mind. But for an organization, employee ID cards with color photographs serve a few purposes. Here are five reasons your employee ID cards need pictures.

You'll find plenty of information online about the questions you should answer before you choose the right ID card printer for your organization's needs and budget. For example, do you want to print on a single side or both sides of your ID cards, how many cards a year will you print, do you want extra security features, etc.? But what no one shares are the questions you should ask the vendor before you buy an ID card printing solution.

Customers just like you ask Idesco's ID Experts why not just use an inexpensive digital SLR camera instead of a photo ID card program-specific one. Our response is always, "Let us explain what your options are so you can make the best decision based on your needs."

A digital SLR camera takes wonderful pictures, but using it adds several unnecessary steps when compared to an ID card camera. 

If you're implementing an employee ID card program for your organization, the myriad of bits and pieces that go along with an ID card printer can be overwhelming. Most people just want to know the foundational pieces they must have to get started. Then they can decide later on if they need bells and whistles.

Here are the key ID card printer supplies you need to start your employee ID card program.

Schools, hospitals, and other organizations have visitors on premises at varying times throughout the day. More than likely, you've decided that you need visitor badges for either security reasons or to more easily identify who is on site at any given time. Depending on what your visitors do on-site, you may need either plastic or paper visitor badges. Let's look at each to get an idea of their viability and uses.

Your next corporate event could be something as simple as a sponsored conference or as complex as an annual global conference. One of the many decisions you must make months in advance is choosing event credentials for attendee access. And depending on the security and technology requirements for your event badges, you'll need the right credential printer.

If you're setting up your organization's ID cards and badging program, you'll need an ID card software program to design and print your cards. While there are several viable programs available, they will all design and print ID cards and badges. That's like saying a Chevrolet is comparable to a Rolls Royce because they all have wheels and windshields. There are levels of design and functionality that separate a basic software program from the premium version.

An option you might consider when issuing multiple cards with the same design is having them pre-printed. Then you can customize each card with the information you need, saving time, money, and effort.

For example, some companies' ID cards have their full-color logo and maybe a tagline printed on each card. It takes more time to print each card, uses more consumables, and your support staff waste time they could better spend on customer-facing activities.

Companies use clamshell proximity cards for a variety of purposes. Their shell construction is perfect for harsh environments, making them highly durable, and they're also convenient, affordable, and reliable. More importantly, companies turn to clamshell proximity cards because they work well with diverse applications. They provide access control, PC login, biometric authentication, time and attendance, cashless vending, public transportation, airline ticketing, customer loyalty programs, and more.

Your campus, facility, or organization needs ID cards or security badges. You might even need to print different badges for employees, visitors, contractors, vendors, volunteers, etc. How do you know when it makes sense to purchase an ID card printing solution with everything you need to issue badges on-site? Or should you outsource them to an expert ID card printing service? While there are several considerations for both sides of the equation, your decision ultimately depends on your specific needs.

Every business, organization, educational system, and governmental entity needs one thing for their ID badges or cards: a way to hold it. Most expect cardholders to display their IDs either for security reasons (e.g., so security personnel can tell at a glance who belongs). Others use holders that make it easy for cardholders to access their cards for swiping or coming within proximity of a card reader.

As there are many types of ID badge holders available, how do you choose the right one for your cardholders' needs? Let's go over a few deciding factors.

Is safety of employees and company assets a primary concern for your company or organization? How do you make sure you restrict access to your facilities only to allowed individuals? A good visitor management system helps you manage the visitor process. Here are a few tips to help you set up a suitable visitor ID program and to figure out what you should display on your visitor IDs.

If you're new to ID badging, you may find the array of available equipment and accessories overwhelming. Where should you start? What do you really need for security, identification, or access control? Idesco makes it easy by offering ID card printing solutions comprising printers, blank cards, consumables, a camera, software, and more, depending on your needs. 

Whether to "slot" is a design issue every organization faces when implementing their ID card and badging program. Besides all the other design decisions you must make like whether to print on one side or two, consider how your employees or students will carry their cards.

The answer to that question might require a slot.

TWAIN is an application programming interface (API) that regulates how digital imaging devices like a camera communicates with a software program. What this means in layman's terms is TWAIN drivers let you connect a digital camera directly to your ID card software program.

You may have heard of expiring ID badges or self-expiring badges; many companies today have gone away from the paper visitor log and guests badges that need returned to the receptionist. They are now combining a visitor management system and expiring ID badges to control and monitor guests. Visitor management solutions today require a photo ID to verify a guest's identity. These solutions scan IDs and enter them in a company's system which uses software to streamline the visitor management process.

Companies, universities, and organizations of all kinds use key fobs to help secure employees, students, and assets. These key fobs function a lot like the keyless entry systems for motor vehicles, allowing the fob holder’s to enter into a building or other restricted areas. Key fobs are small electronic devices you can add to your key ring or keep in a pocket. They work with your overall access control system to manage entry through a single automatically locked door or throughout your entire facility.

Are you still using the old-fashioned paper log to track your visitors and issuing adhesive "Hello, my name is…" badges to guests? First impressions are everything. Make your company's first impression professional with an innovative, electronic visitor management system. When your guests step through your front door, they won't focus on your antiquated systems; instead, you'll impress them with an engaging and enjoyable visitor experience.

Are you responsible for special events like concerts, trade shows, conferences, sporting events, and more? Whether you're in the hospitality or event management industry, an oversized ID badge printer can be a game-changer for credentialing guests at your event. If you're looking to upgrade a current ID card printer or invest in a new one, you want the top oversized ID badge printer for your needs. But with several oversized ID card printers to choose from, how do you know which is the best? Here's what to consider when choosing a printer to buy.

You don't have to be an event company to understand the benefits your organization will reap from putting on an event. From hosting a conference to inviting your clients to a golf outing, companies use events to get their brand front and foremost.

In addition, have you discovered the benefits of trade shows? Not only can you test new products at trade shows, but you get access to a large population of your ideal customers which results in a lower cost per sale.

ComputerWorld reported in 2018 that Macs comprised 10 percent of personal computers. With the rise in Mac use, ID card printer solutions are keeping pace. While not as slim as a decade ago, the choices for ID card printers with Mac iOS print drivers and Mac-compatible software programs have improved with the times.

If you're new to the ID card scene, you may wonder what you need to set up a full-scale employee or student photo badge solution. You're sure you'll need an ID card printer and some cards, but everything beyond that isn't quite clear.

We put together a handy checklist to help make sure you're fully stocked and ready to ramp up your ID card process as soon as you get your new printer.

Employee or student ID cards are the norm today, but choosing what to put on your cards isn't. With a bevy of options, how do you keep your card from becoming so cluttered, it's almost unidentifiable? Let's walk through a simple process to help you determine what information you should print on your employee or student ID cards.

Lanyards are one of the most popular badge accessories for employee or student ID cards. They're a convenient way to display your credentials, and lanyards aren't easy to misplace like other badge accessories. 

The ID card software you choose needs to meet all of your needs, now and in the future. For example, a basic employee ID template helps you print out a few cards a week, so you may not need something powerful with a full database. 

Are you in search of an ID card printer for your employee, student, visitor, attendee, or other badging program? One of the first things you must consider is whether a direct-to-card or retransfer printer works best for your business needs and budget.

Do you need a badge so customers can easily spot employees when they need help? Or maybe you need to track student attendance and access to facilities. Perhaps security of proprietary information, products, etc. is an issue and you need to restrict access to your offices and factories. Each of these work environments call for a different type of employee ID card.

Do you currently use proximity cards or maybe you're considering switching to a proximity card system for your access control needs? Proximity cards provide the security you need to maintain who should access to your facility. 

Security is one of the most important priorities in any organization. From small businesses to large enterprises, and from local school districts to big-campus universities, issuing ID cards helps keep people and assets safe. But there's a difference between a simple ID card and one that's secure.

If you're considering all your options for an ID card printing solution, a popular—and secure—option to look at are plastic cards with a magnetic stripe. For a variety of reasons, these cards are used extensively today in both the US and around the world. 

You know you need secure access control in your facility or office building, but you're not sure how to decide between a proximity or smart card. Which will better meet your security needs, be easy for employees and others to use, and fit in your budget? We help you answer those questions in this article.

Many people dread having their picture taken. We have all seen or had a hideous driver's licenses that gets tuck in the backs of our wallets. But for employee ID badges, student ID cards, and other photo IDs, most wear or display them prominently in clip-on holders, lanyards, or some other badge accessory. 

Do you know who's in your building right now besides your employees? How many visitors have you had over the past week or month? Who showed up at your office or facility on May 26, 2017?

When considering an ID card printing solution, one consideration is whether your company needs laminated ID cards now or in the future. Lamination puts a thin plastic layer over your ID cards during the printing process that offers quite a few benefits.

Self-expiring ID badges aren't magic; they don't disappear or turn colors at the stroke of midnight. Rather, they use a chemical reaction to gradually change colors or reveal a message over a select period.